Maxine Jones Ross, 88, formerly of Spring Mills, entered peacefully into eternal rest, Thursday October 21, 2010 at Centre Crest in Bellefonte.
Born at home March 15, 1922 in Costello, PA, Maxine was one of 8 children of the late George W. and Emily Nelson Jones. Siblings George, Walter, Ken, Fern, Mae and Mary preceded her in death.
Maxine was a 1942 graduate of Galeton High School.She met her husband, the late Carl I. "Pete" Ross, while working at Stone Villa Haven in Lewisburg, a motel/restaurant/truck stop owned by her aunt and uncle. They were married in Mifflinburg June 15, 1946. Pete was working for the railroad in Renovo at that time. In 1948 he took a job for the Bellefonte Central Railroad and they moved to the Spring Mills area. Maxine and Pete were the parents of 5 children.
Maxine retired from Gettig Engineering in 1982. For some years after that, Maxine and Pete wintered in Florida. In later years, from 1992 until his death in 1999, Pete was in failing health and resided at Centre Crest. Maxine was there every day to spend time with him, no matter what the weather and together they developed many friendships with staff and residents. Maxine enjoyed family, friends, camping, flowers, word search books and reading. She had a beautiful smile for everyone she met.
She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ in Spring Mills. Before she came to Centre Crest last year, Maxine resided at Salem Hill Haven in Spring Mills where she had many friends among staff and residents.
Maxine is survived by daughters Brenda (Irv) Heckman, and Bonnie (Dean) Auman of Spring Mills and Lori (Jon) Bathgate of Lewes, DE, and daughter-in-law Cindy (Rick) Ross of Spring Mills. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a brother, Harold Jones of Westfield PA. Besides her husband, Maxine was preceded in death by a son, Richard C. Ross, and a daughter, Corinne Ross Brower.
Friends will be received at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Service, 1034 Benner Pike, State College on Tuesday, October 26 from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM with services at 11:30 AM. with the Rev. Leigh Pick officiating. When the service is complete, her grandsons will carry her with love and honor to her final resting place in Centre County Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17110; or to the American Heart Association, 501 Howard Ave., Altoona, PA 16601.
An online guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.