Patricia Ann (Oren) Ross

Patricia Ann Ross, 82, of Muncie, passed away surrounded by family on March 5, 2026 at Morrison Woods Assisted Living Campus.

Born in Dayton, Ohio on January 4, 1944, Pat grew up in Blanchester, Ohio with her parents, Mildred and Virgil Oren, and younger siblings Alice and Ronnie. She graduated from Blanchester High School in 1962, where she was active in 4-H and FFA. In 1963 she met James Ross on a blind date, and they married ten months later in Roseville, Michigan in August 1964. Their loving marriage spanned nearly 62 years. Together they raised two children, Lara (Ross) Thise and James Ross, while traveling the country during Jim’s service in the US Air Force. They made their homes in Ohio, Alaska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Pat was deeply involved with the Boy Scouts of America alongside her husband. She served as Council receptionist in Alaska for many years and later worked with Jim as camp rangers at Camp Mack Morris in Tennessee and Camp Decorah in Wisconsin, a role she approached with great dedication. She also spent nearly 15 years as a Special Education teacher’s aide and FFA advisor at North Pole High School in Alaska. Known for her generosity and strong convictions, Pat believed most problems could be solved with a batch of homemade cookies and gave freely of herself to those around her.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, James Ross; her children, Lara (Ross) Thise and husband Brian of Indiana, and James Ross and wife Alyson of North Carolina; and her granddaughter, Amanda (Thise) Little and husband Joe of Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Alice (Oren) Rogers of Missouri. Pat chose cremation with no service, preferring to wait until she and Jim could be laid to rest together.