Eleanor Ross

ELEANOR AUGUSTA LONGWELL ROSS


Eleanor Augusta Longwell Ross, 87, of Hamilton, NY, died on April 25, 2015, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on May 14, 1927 in Covington, PA to the Rev. Alden D. and Ruth Angel Longwell. She graduated at the top of her class from Canaseraga Central School in western NY in 1944 and received her BA in chemistry and mathematics from Baldwin-Wallace University in Ohio. After graduation, Eleanor moved to Rochester, NY, where she worked as a statistician for Kodak.
In 1953 she married the Rev. Vernon H. Ross. They spent the next 61 years together, the last 50 in Hamilton, NY. As unofficial co-pastor, she headed up the nursery school programs at each of her husband's churches, was a member of numerous church women's groups, and served as church secretary for 15 years at First Baptist Church in Hamilton. In the 1970s, she started gathering canned goods and used clothes to provide for those in need and helped grow that effort into today's Hamilton Food Cupboard and Worn Again.
A kind, gentle, and generous soul, Eleanor lived a life of giving to her family, her church, and her community. In retirement, she remained an active participant in civic and literary groups. A lifelong learner, she was an avid reader, loved crosswords and games, and all manner of fun. She aimed "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly" and succeeded beyond measure.
She is survived by her husband, their three children Gordon, Susan (Fred Marki), and Tim (Anna Kornilakis), and six grandchildren and her brother Alden D. Longwell of Rochester, NY.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, 27 Broad St., Hamilton, NY

Memorial gifts may be made to the Hamilton Food Cupboard, Heritage Farm (Bouckville, NY), or the First Baptist Church of Hamilton, NY.