Cornelius “Pete” Ross Jr. died on June 10, 2008. The Silverdale resident was 75.

He was born to Cornelius “Pete” and Effie Ross Sr. in Mount Bethel, Pa. The family moved to Kitsap County in 1945.

Mr. Ross graduated from Central Kitsap High School and from the University of Washington with graduate studies at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and the University of Washington. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He was employed for a time with Boeing, the Atomic Energy Commission at Livermore, Calif. before returning to Bremerton where he purchased the Poplars Restaurant, which he operated until its closure in 1986. He helped found the Mt. Baker Mushroom Farm in Whatcom County where he traveled from Silverdale to the mushroom farm at least once a week.

In 1967, Mr. Ross became very involved with the Silverdale Pee Wees and continued to this date. He and wife Dona founded the “Pete and Dona Ross Field” through long hours of work, years of negotiations, devotion and financial aid.

He was a life member of the Bremerton Yacht Club, where he participated in many Predicted Log Races with the “Driftwood” in which he was the overall winner of the prestigious International Race from Tacoma to Nanaimo, B.C. in July 1966. He also was a life member of the Elks, 1181 and the National Ski Patrol, and a member of Kitsap Golf and Country Club and a founding member of the Silverdale Lions, Silverdale Chamber of Commerce and many other boards and committees. His first priority was to promote the Silverdale Pee Wees from playing sports on a grade school field to owning their own complex as it is today.

He enjoyed cruising the boat “Salmon Spirit” to Craig, Alaska every year for a summer of salmon fishing, golfing, gardening, stamp collecting and youth sports.

He is survived by his wife Dona (Katzenberger) of 55 years; their three children, Alan (Debbie) of Thorne Bay, Alaska, Cindy Parker of Bellingham and Renee (Larry) Leeper of Bellingham; six grandchildren; sister Melissa (Robert) Olson of Silverdale; and brother Ron (Nadean) Ross of Silverdale.

Memorial services are at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29 at Miller-Woodlawn, reception follows at Kitsap Golf & Country Club.