Aubrey Ross

Aubrey was born to Aubrey C. and Bessie Steward Ross in Century, Florida where he grew up and graduated from Century High School in 1940. His only sibling, a sister, Virgie Ross Griggs, a school teacher in Escambia County Schools, preceded him in death in 1999. He was attending the University of Florida when the United States entered World War II. He applied and was accepted as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Forces where he realized a life long ambition by becoming a rated pilot and a commissioned officer in May of 1943. After a few months of additional training, he was assigned an airplane and crew to fly to his combat assignment in North Africa by way of Greenland, Iceland, UK and then to Casablanca. He flew from bases in North Africa, Sicily and later Italy dropping paratroopers in combat operations and supplies to partition guerrillas in Albania, Greece and Yugoslavia. He was transferred to the United Kingdom in March 1944 for further training to participate in the liberation of Europe. Here he flew many missions into France, Belgium, Holland and Germany until Germany capitulated in May 1945. He was then sent to Puerto Rico where he flew the South Atlantic bringing troops back to the U.S. prior to them being sent to the Pacific Theater. Captain Ross left the military in March 1946 returning to the Pensacola area but remained a member of the Air Force Reserve where he could continue his love of flying at Eglin Air Force Base on weekends. When Russia closed all roads leading into Berlin in 1947, the U.S. Air Force organized a supply system using airplanes to fly food and other necessities into the city which prevented the citizens from starving. This airlift resulted in the recalling of thousands of pilots to active duty and Captain Ross was among them. He left the Air Force again in February 1950 but a few months later in June, he again was recalled to active duty when North Korea invaded the South. He remained on active duty until his retirement in 1965. Colonel Ross enjoyed many rewarding and challenging assignments during his over twenty years of active service. His flying duties took him to forty countries on five continents, across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans several times, across jungles and deserts and images of war with burned cities and starving people. His overseas assignment to the Philippines afforded him the opportunity to visit many countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Borneo and many small islands. Among his many assignments he was squadron commander, group commander and wing operations officer. One rewarding job was the three years tour of duty at Air Force Officer Candidate School where as Chief of Training, he helped mold young men and women to become future Air Force leaders. Upon retirement, Aubrey began a second career that he loved when he became a Real Estate Broker with Gulf Breeze Realty where he remained until 2003. He developed several subdivisions in Santa Rosa County and the Gulf Breeze area. He was a member of the Pensacola Board of Realtors for over thirty years. Aubrey enjoyed a full life never missing an opportunity to express his thanks for all the wonderful blessings bestowed on him and he was extremely proud of the career successes and achievements of his two daughters. He was also very thankful for their devotion to him. Aubrey is survived by his wife Louise, daughter Dianne Wilber and her husband Mel of Monticello, FL, daughter Mary Lynne Ball of New Market, AL, grandsons Matthew and Andrew Barker, as well as four great-grandchildren, Ethan, Ross, Seth and Lillian Barker. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements entrusted to Rose Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery of Gulf Breeze. You may offer condolences and sign the guestbook at www.roselawn-fh.com