Long-time community leader Barbara Ross has passed away at the age of 86.
Ross 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 the next candidate to sit on the Benton County 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 Commissioner’s seat from 1977 through 1985. To cap things off, Ross became a State Representative from 1996 through 2001.
During her life in Corvallis, Ross was an advocate beyond the Commissioner seat. When her friend Ed Epley lost the buildings on some land to fire, she suggested they do 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. Anne Schuster says Ross did all of the fund raising when Schuster ran to be a Commissioner in 2014. Remembering Ross as a “person you just couldn’t say no to.”
Schuster remembers 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 has brought out many prominent Corvallisites with fond memories of this powerhouse woman. Sara Gelser Blouin spoke of the time Ross put into assisting her through the beginning of her political career. Julie Manning posted a comment of how Ross was 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.
Although the cause of death is not immediately known, Ross had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
By Sally K Lehman
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