Curtis "Curt" George Ross

Curtis “Curt” George Ross went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, July 25th. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a loving brother and uncle whose passion for family and his aviation career was clear to all who knew him. Born on January 29th, 1963, in Orville, Ohio, to I. Mark and Lula H. Ross and the youngest of six children, Curt’s passion for aviation began at a young age. In the summer of 1975, when he was twelve years old, he took his first flight aboard a McDonnell Douglas DC-3 on a trip to visit his sister and brother-in-law in Bolivia, where they were serving as missionaries. It was that flight and the short time in the cockpit that transformed a young Curt and would kickstart a passion that lasted a lifetime. Curt began his flying career earning his private pilot’s license from Sarasota/Bradenton Airport, often riding his bicycle to the airport to pursue his passion even before he could drive. He furthered his flying career by earning his commercial license in Allentown, Pennsylvania while attending Christopher Dock High School. Curt continued his education and flying career at Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, graduating with an Associates Degree before returning to Sarasota. Upon returning to the town he would call home, Curt met his wife Shannon while working as a flight instructor at Dolphin Aviation. His first son, Curtis Ross II, was born in Naples, FL in 1987 as Curt began work at Provincetown Boston Airlines, PBA Airlines. A few years later Curt, Shannon, and Curtis moved to Weston, FL where Curt began flying for Eastern Airlines, and his second son, Jared Mark Ross, was born. The family of four relocated to Sarasota, FL in October of 1992 where they reside today. Among Curt’s proudest accomplishments was the on-demand charter and cargo business, Son Air Cargo, Inc, that he started in January of 1997. He ran his business successfully until October 2008 when he transitioned to Director of Operations at a Sarasota-based jet charter service. His passion for flying larger equipment continued to drive career decisions until finally, in April of 2018, he began flying Boeing 767s for Atlas Air. Over the course of Curt’s career spanning multiple decades and several cities, he amassed more than 18,500 hours as an Airline Transport Pilot with type-ratings in 15+ airplanes, including the DC-3. Family was the most important thing in Curt’s life, however. Spending time with his grandchildren Ashlynn, Charlotte, Caleb (Curtis), and Beckham (Jared) was what gave him the most joy. Known to his family as a man who loved the outdoors, sports, and card games, he could find happiness in any family time. Growing up as the son of a preacher, Curt’s Christian faith was of utmost importance to him and is a gift he shared with his wife and sons. To his friends, he will be remembered as a man who smiled more than he frowned, a man who was always interested in hearing or telling a good story, and a man who loved the Lord and shared his faith with others. Curt is preceded in death by his father, I. Mark, and mother, Lula. He is survived by his wife, Shannon, sons, Curtis (Amanda) and Jared (Stephanie), grandchildren, Ashlynn, Charlotte, Caleb and Beckham, and siblings Lucille, Lavonne (Sherm), Karen (Leon), Lynn, and Conrad (Kay), as well as many nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of life service at Sarasota Community Church, 4041 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota, FL 34232, on August 6th with a viewing starting at 10 am followed by the service at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to Agape Flights, the aviation-based ministry operating flights to Haiti, in memory of Curt Ross. https://www.agapeflights.com/donate/

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Curtis "Curt" George Ross

January 29, 1963 - July 25, 2022