William B. “Billy” Moore ’36 of Tryon, N.C., died September 24, 2006. He was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Marines in World War II, serving as a company commander in Iwo Jima, where he received the Purple Heart. He moved to Polk County in 1952. Later he was retired from Conrad, Hoey, East CPA firm, Spartanburg, S.C. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross of Creston, N.C. Survivors include many friends whose lives he touched, and a niece, Ms. Janet Montgomery, 5587 Jones Rd., Creston, N.C. 28615.
Thomas Lee Ross ’36
Thomas Lee Ross ’36 died May 6, 2006, at Northeast Medical Center with his family by his side. A lover of fine music, art and food, Mr. Ross slipped away as his children helped him eat strawberry ice cream. Mr. Ross had been a resident of The Pines at Davidson for four years. Mr. Ross grew up on West Depot Street, what is now Cabarrus Avenue. President of student government at Concord High, he was a graduate of Harvard Business School and remained close to Davidson and Harvard throughout his life. He generously supported the classical music radio station WDAV. He traveled throughout the United States and Europe became a lover of the Ross and Leslie tartans. He was with a Concord group attending the 1939 World’s Fair in New York when RCA demonstrated a new technology—television—for the first time, broadcasting a speech by President Roosevelt. A skilled amateur tennis player and golfer, he competed in events at the Cabarrus County Country Club and attended the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open tennis tournaments. After graduate school, Mr. Ross worked as Mr. C.A. Cannon’s personal assistant. In 1949, he joined Cabarrus Bank and Trust Co. and became bank director, vice president and trust officer, president and trust officer, and chairman in 1972. After the bank’s merger with Northwestern, Mr. Ross was regional executive vice president until his retirement in 1984. He stayed on as chairman of the local Northwestern board. He served as president and director of the Cannon Foundation and was an active member of the Concord Rotary Club and a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church. He received an honorary doctorate from Barber-Scotia College and the Wingate Medallion from the trustees of Wingate College. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Marshall Dean Ross, and by his first wife, Jane Capus Ivey. Survivors include his wife, Doris Ross of Davidson and seven children: Elizabeth Jane Ross Bare of Concord; Thomas Lee Ross III of Blowing Rock; Leslie Calvin Ross of Raleigh; Rebecca Hannah Patten of Concord; Walter White Hannah of Concord; David Fuller Ross of Black Mountain; and Laura Ross Loehr, M.D. ’89, of Durham; nine grandchildren: Elizabeth Warren-Mikes of Chicago; Adelle, William and Hannah Ross Patten of Concord; Caroline Ross of Charleston, S.C., and Hadley Ross of Washington, D.C.; Laura Hannah of Swannanoa and Ross Hannah of Raleigh; and Millicent Loehr of Durham; and one great-granddaughter: Caroline Elizabeth Mikes of Chicago.
The Rev. William Benjamin Stokes ’36
The Rev. William Benjamin Stokes ’36 of Charlotte, N.C., died February 1, 2006. A retired United Methodist minister, he had served churches in the Virginia and Western North Carolina Conferences including Aldersgate, Zoar, and First United Methodist Church of Charlotte. He was a member and past master of Temple Lodge #676 AF & AM, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Oasis Temple of the Shrine. He was also a past patron of the Charlotte Chapter 294 Order of the Eastern Star. He is survived by his wife, Catherine “Kitsie” Stokes, 3420 Shamrock Dr., Apt. 714, Charlotte, N.C. 28215; his son, W. Ben Stokes, Jr. and wife, Ella Sue; and his daughter, Jet Taylor and husband, Paul, all of Charlotte. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Sheri Quinn and husband, Paul, William B. Stokes, III and wife, Christi, and Cynthia Williams and husband, Tommy; as well as five great-grandchildren, Payton Quinn, Kenny and Melissa Stokes, and Kathryn and Emily Williams.
J. Frank Cabell ’36
J. Frank Cabell ’36 of Jackson, Miss., died January 4, 2006. He retired as president of Cabell Electric Wholesale Company in 1979. During World War II he served as a flight instructor. He trained American, French, and Dutch pilots, sending many pilots to the Eighth Air Force.
Roger S. Riley ’36
Roger S. Riley ’36, of Sanford, N.C., passed away March 2, 2004.