LeRoy Frank Gross

LeRoy Frank Gross, age 95, passed away at home from acute cardiac and respiratory distress, surrounded by loved ones on February 8, 2017.

LeRoy was born to Clara K. and George Charles Gross, on May 5, 1921 in Defiance, Iowa. Three brothers, Alfred, Arthur and Clarence Gross, preceded him in death as well as his first wife, Marilyn Biggers Gross, in 1976.

LeRoy joined the Civilian Conservation Crops in 1940 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. While in boot camp in San Diego, he met and married Marilyn Biggers, before deploying to Pearl Harbor in 1943. After combat on Guadacanal and Peleliu, he landed on Saipan Island.

In December 1945, after 32 months of duty overseas, he was transferred to Guam and then returned to the United States to meet his daughter, Jo Lynn, who was nearly two years old. A second daughter, Patsy Lee, was born in 1946.

In 1963, LeRoy set a new record for the Fourth Annual Interservice 1000 yard Rifle Match, which was held at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, which we believe still stands.

After serving nearly 26 years in the Marine Corps, LeRoy retired as a Gunnery Sergeant in 1967. From 1968 to 1986, he had another career as a package store manager for the PX Club System on Camp Pendleton, Calif. and retired again after 18 years.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carolyn; daughters Jo Lynn (Jerry) and Patsy Lee; grandchildren David Brian, Debra Lynn, Eric Royce and great-granddaughter Angelica.

Always proud to be a Marine, LeRoy was a kind and gentle man, loved by everyone who knew him.

Services will be held at Eternal Hills in Oceanside on February 20 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local Hospice group.