Dorris Umbarger Ross

Marion, Va.

Dorris Umbarger Ross age 84, passed away Sunday, September 24, 2023 at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Va.

Dorris was a loving mother, grandma, sister, and friend. She was born in Marion, met the love of her life Bob (Robert A. Ross) who was from Sugar Grove after she attended the Konnarock Girl School.

Together they began a journey that took them all over the world. Their son was born in Kansas, then they moved to Germany, South Carolina, Valley Forge Military Academy (Pennsylvania) and then back to Marion while her husband served in Korea; then to California, and Utah, where she made many friends while working as a hospital switch board operator at the Mckay Dee Hospital while Robert was serving in Vietnam. Then they moved to Richmond, Ky. and back to Utah, Clarksville, Tennessee then finally back home to Marion.

Dorris and Bob enjoyed traveling and visited her son and his family in Germany, many states where he served in the Army and traveled to the Middle East to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. She and Bob enjoyed bowling and participating in several leagues as well as in tournaments all over the country.

She greatly enjoyed her family visits when they would come home to Virginia but especially loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She used to say, “that even though she only had one child she was blessed with a large family.”

After her husband passed, she served in the Food Pantry at First Church of God in Atkins. She really enjoyed the people and serving, but poor health got in her way so she had to stop. Dorris will be missed by those she met, members of her family and those she worked with.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Garland and Mae Umbarger; husband, Robert A. Ross; sisters, Joan Sawyers and husband, William H. Sawyers, and Charlotte Parks and husband, Roby S. Parks, Sr. Her sister Barbara also lost her husband Robert Olsen.

Dorris is survived by her son, Robert A. “Bobby” Ross, Jr. and wife, Cindy of Charlotte, Tenn.; sister, Brabara Olsen of Ogden, Utah; four grandchildren, Allen Ross and wife, Jennifer of Lake Stevens, Wash., Jon Ross and wife, Andrea of Clarksville, Tenn., Steven Ross and wife, Katie of Auburn, Ky., Melanie DeGeorgio (Brian) of Adams, Tenn.; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild on the way; special nieces, Debbie Thompson of Rural Retreat, Va. and Sherry Frye of Marion, Va. offered her many hours of service and support; special friend, Midge Medley of Marion, Va. also assisted her greatly with tasks she could no longer perform on her own.

The family will receive friends for the Viewing Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 12 until 1 p.m. at Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Chapel. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. with burial following in Rose Lawn Cemetery, 4410 Lee Highway, Marion VA 24354.

To share memories of Dorris Umbarger Ross, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Dorris has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Funeral Service, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354.