LT COL Robert E. Ross (Bob), USAF, Retired, of Beaufort, husband of Caren J. Ross, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. He was 92 years old.
Services will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Bob was born on March 30, 1934, in St. George, South Carolina, the son of the late John E. Ross and Mary A. McManus. Affectionately known as “Sunny” by his family growing up, he spent much of his childhood in both Camden and Charleston. Bob attended North Charleston High School, where his classmates voted him “Most Talented” his senior year. After graduating in 1952, he enrolled at The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina), studying primarily Physics and English from 1952 to 1956. During his junior year at The Citadel, Bob earned a coveted position with the elite Summerall Guards as a rising senior. He also set-and held-the cadet record for pullups during his time there. Bob graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He later continued his education, earning a Master of Air Defense from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Chapman University.
Upon graduating from The Citadel, Bob was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on September 23, 1956. He went on to build a distinguished and decorated 26-year career as a fighter pilot and Air Force officer. During the Vietnam War, Bob was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in Manila, Philippines. He briefly flew combat missions in the B-57 Canberra tactical bomber before transferring to the 509th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, where he flew the F-102A Delta Dagger-the world’s first supersonic all-weather jet interceptor and the USAF’s first operational delta wing fighter aircraft. In total, Bob flew more than 200 combat missions during the Vietnam conflict. He loved flying, and that passion defined much of his career.
After returning to the United States, Bob served as the Cincduece at Perrin Air Force Base, training new and seasoned pilots on the F-102 weapons interceptor system and in simulated combat operations. Throughout his service, Bob held numerous command positions related to air operations. He also spent seven years overseas with NATO-first as Director of Air Operations and Plans with the Iceland Defense Force, and later as Deputy Chief of Staff of Air Operations and Plans at Headquarters AFSOUTH in Naples, Italy. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Bob began a second career with Hughes Aircraft. During his ten years with the company, he worked as a marketing manager and later as a senior scientist with the Ground Systems Group in Fullerton, California.
In retirement, Bob remained active and engaged. After he and his wife Caren moved from Southern California to Beaufort, South Carolina, he became deeply involved in the community. He was one of the founding members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort in 1999. A longtime member of the Beaufort County Democratic Party, he received the Chairman’s Award in 2004. Proud of his Scottish heritage, Bob served for years as a Regional Commissioner for Clan Ross America, traveling widely to Scottish Highland Games and clan gatherings across the United States. He also wrote editorials to local and national press organizations and remained active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), supported the United Service Organization (USO), and advocated strongly for civil rights, women’s rights, and immigrants’ rights.
Bob owned many convertible cars over the course of his life, and his signature Greek fisherman’s cap-and later his European driving caps-became part of his unmistakable look. His tastes were wide-ranging: pasta, BLT sandwiches, oysters, tomatoes, and okra all delighted him, but nothing ever topped his love of vanilla ice cream. And every single day, without fail, Bob made time for an espresso. His interests were just as diverse. Bob spent countless hours working on antique and classic cars over the years, taking particular pride in the 1929 Ford Model A he bought and restored in the late 1960s. Theater also captured his heart; for decades, he poured his creativity into designing and building sets for community productions. When he wasn’t in the workshop or the theater, Bob was often outdoors. He tended his rose and vegetable gardens with care, and he maintained a lawn that many considered the best in town.
A devoted reader and amateur historian, Bob traced his family’s ancestry all the way back to Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy. He loved sharing these discoveries with his children and grandchildren, weaving stories from centuries past. What energized him most, though, was travel. Throughout their 62-year marriage, Bob and Caren explored the world together, traversing the globe countless times-including more than a dozen Viking river boat cruises through Western and Eastern Europe during retirement.
Bob will always be remembered for his quick wit, generous charm, and the effortless way he could spark engaging conversation in any setting. Surviving in addition to his wife, Caren; are two sons, Anthony ‘Anton” James Ross (Laura) and Robert Andrew “Andy” Ross (Shannon); two sisters, Glenda Ott and Susan Maloney; one brother, James Barry Maloney; two grandsons (Dominic and Tony) and two granddaughters (Sidney and Lucy).
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Bob’s memory by donating to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. or the Southern Poverty Law Center-organizations he supported and believed in for many years.
Click this link to view additional details about Robert’s Services: https://my.gather.app/remember/robert-ross-jul-2026