Amid Women’s History Month, the late Barbara Ross will be honored with a County building dedicated in her name – fittingly, the Barbara Ross Children and Family Services Building.
A dedication ceremony has been slated for Tuesday, March 18, from 2 to 4 pm. The building is located at 4185 SW Research Way, in Corvallis.
Ross, a longtime community leader, passed away in 2022 at age 86, having spent much of her life working to make our shared community a place where people’s needs are met.
She had earned a BS in 1956 at the University of Texas, then a Master’s in Social Work in 1966. She came to Corvallis in 1970 when her husband took a faculty position at Oregon State University, and she worked as a member of the school board, a social security administrator, and a teacher.
By 1976, she was leading a committee to find a new candidate to run for a Benton County Board of Commissioner’s seat. She wanted to find a strong female candidate, and when no others stood out, Ross stepped up. Not only did she win that seat, she stayed on the Board from 1977 through 1985. Later, Ross served as a State Representative from 1996 through 2001.
During her life in Corvallis, Ross was an advocate beyond the Commissioner’s seat. When her friend Ed Epley lost his buildings to fire, she suggested they build something new that would help the homeless in the Corvallis area. They built Partner’s Place – the first homeless shelter in town.
She also helped other people in their political endeavors.
When we reported on Ross’s death, Anne Schuster recalled she had done all her fundraising for her when she ran to be a commissioner in 2014.
Schuster also recalled being at Ross’s home when someone called asking for Ross to donate to a cause, and she said ‘Okay, I’ll give you $500.’”
“So she gave as much as she gathered,” Schuster said. “And she was always fighting for the right cause.”
On social media, the announcement of Ross’s death brought out many prominent Corvallisites with fond memories. Sara Gelser Blouin spoke of the time Ross put into assisting her through the beginning of her political career. Julie Manning posted a comment recalling Ross as a friend and mentor to so many in our community. And Roen Hogg mentioned the suggestions and encouragement she gave him in his run for office.
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