Remembering Ruth & Forest Vance Ross on their 84th Wedding Anniversary

Forest Vance & Ruth Elaine Brown Ross with their sons
 Forrest Wayne and Kenneth Isaac Ross

Eighty-four years ago today, on April 28, 1937, my Grandparents Forest Vance Ross and Ruth Elaine Brown traveled 90 miles from Clarksville, Pa. to Cumberland, Md., to get married. They were young and in love and I’m sure it was a lovely day for a drive! Ruth’s sister Margaret and Vance’s friend Mike Barnek went along to serve as witnesses. 

Elopement must have been the thing to do back then, and apparently it was easier to get married in Maryland than in Pennsylvania. Twenty-six years later my parents went to Lavale, Md. to tie the knot. My maternal grandparents George and Blanche Shipley Phillians drove a little further east on their wedding day and said their vows in Hagerstown, Md. 

My grandmother told me a sweet story about how my grandfather wanted to name my aunt April when she was born. Grandma didn’t care for the name, so she dismissed the suggestion and they chose the name Janet instead. It wasn’t until years later that she realized why the name April was so endearing to her husband. 

So, today I am thinking of them and how much I miss them. I just know they are together, enjoying their special day. 

(Note: My grandfather spelled Forest with one R, but you will see it spelled differently in various documents.)

My Paternal ancestral line to Vance & Ruth Brown Ross: 1. Randi Lee Ross; 2. Forrest Wayne Ross; 3. Ruth Brown & Forest Vance Ross

by Randi Ross Marodi - randileeross@gmail.com