Lake Forest Obituary: Virginia Ross, 84

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home:

Virginia Hawley Ross, 84, of Lake Forest, IL, died Saturday March 1, 2014. Born in Anderson, Indiana on May25th, 1929, she was the daughter of Winifred Emily Ward and Clark Webster Hawley. She was the granddaughter of Dr. Clark Wilder Hawley, of Chicago, one of the Founders of Rotary International, who was instrumental in establishing Rotary’s charitable focus.

She attended William Woods Academy in Fulton Missouri and received a degree in Interior Design from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She specialized in commercial contract interior design, running her own design firm and working with many corporate clients including Marshall Fields and Abbot Labs. She was a member of The American Society of Interior Designers.

Virginia was very active in The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where she met and married the late Bruce K. Ross. They relocated to Lake Forest in 1968 and were active in many community organizations and The First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. Virginia shared her time and talents with many including The Chicago Drama League, The American Association of University Women, and The Community Associates of the Art Institute. With the latter she most enjoyed sharing art in the classroom and was “The Picture Lady” for schools both in Lake Forest and in North Chicago, IL.

Her husband, Bruce, her parents and her sister Barbara Poole, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Susan Ross Michaelis (Mike) of Lake Bluff, IL, her son James Bruce Ross (Susie) of Havertown, PA and grandchildren, Duncan, Finn, Christopher and Thomas. 

Virginia’s life will be celebrated at The First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest at 3pm Saturday March 8th with tea immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers donations are welcome to The North Chicago Community Partners (www.northchicagocommunitypartners.org). Info. Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest, www.wenbanfh.com or (847) 234-0022.