He was born April 11, 1924, in Richmond, California, to William Henry and Mary Prokopovich Ross. He spent his early years in Tacoma, Washington. As a nine-year-old boy during the depression, he supplemented the family income by selling newspapers on the streets. In high school he became interested in journalism and was the Sports Editor for the student newspaper and editor of the yearbook.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Ninth Army when they landed at Omaha Beach in October 1941 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war he returned home and graduated from the University of Washington. During his college years, he married Lila May Lee. He did his graduate work at the American Institute of Foreign Trade. Bill began his career work in foreign operations, which took him to South America. He and Lila lived in Venezuela and Colombia and became parents to three children, Robin, Tracy and Allison. As an infant Tracy died and was buried in Bogota. They returned to the United States where he began a new career in personnel management.

Bill and Lila divorced. In 1966, he married Glenna Ruth Bliss and became a beloved step-father to her children, Michael and Patricia. Bill and Glenna lived in Reno, NV; West Caldwell, NJ; Montgomery AL; and retired to Highland, UT.

While in New Jersey, Bill was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held various Church leadership positions, including Bishop’s Counselor and Stake Executive Secretary.

Bill and Glenna caught the travel bug and visited many places in Europe and around the US. Bill was an avid reader and a big fan of BYU and the Utah Jazz. He will be remembered for his quiet dignity, his dry wit, and his loving devotion to Glenna and his family. He was a true patriot and a perfect gentleman.

He is survived by two daughters, Robin (Michael) Spade, and Allison Fairfield; stepchildren, Michael (Nancy) Bliss and Patricia (Dennis) Riches; 17 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, He was preceded in death by his wife Glenna and son-in-law Michael Fairfield.

The family will be forever grateful for the loving attention provided by the caregivers from Legacy Village in Provo.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 9th, at 10:00 am, at the Day Meadows Ward Chapel, 6050 West Chapel Drive, Highland, Utah, where a Viewing will be held prior to services from 9:00 to 9:45 am. Interment in Bountiful City Cemetery at 12:00 noon. Services may also be viewed at http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/highlandutahcentralstake.

Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.uvfuneral.com.