George Roessing (Ross) Hays, 100, of Tampa, Florida, passed away March 25, 2012.
Ross was born in Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, January 27th, 1912. He was born into a pioneer family which had helped settle Western Virginia, prior to statehood. He was a graduate of Calhoun County High School and Glenville State College, in Glenville, West Virginia.
He served in the Army Air Corps during WW2, doing his flight training in Miami. After the war he moved to Tampa, where he met and married Sophia Hill (Hays) and began a career in the lumber business with Logan Lumber Company. He rose to the position of General Sales Manager with Logan, before changing careers and joining First Federation Life Insurance Company, where he eventually became company President.
After retiring from the insurance industry, Ross returned to the lumber business and worked for Hearin Lumber until his permanent retirement. Ross was an active member at Palma Ceia Methodist Church. He was a member of the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, Feather Sound Golf and Country Club, and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sophia Hill Hays, and their daughter, Mary Katey Hays Porebski.
He is survived by his four other children, Barbara Henderson, of Chads Ford Pennsylvania, Robert M. Hays, of Hartsville, S.C., Carol Ann Moore, of Spencer, West Virginia, and Ross Hays, Jr. of Tampa, Florida. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
He was especially proud of making his 100th birthday, and could still tell you the names and birthdays of all his grandchildren. He loved his family greatly, as they loved him. He will be missed mightily, but remembered as long as there are Hays'.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.BlountCurryMacDill.com
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