Chestertown is mourning the passing of Edna Ross, longtime proprietress of Ross Typing & Printing, who died on Sunday, January 16.
Edna’s was the default office for so many of us in the community. She had everything. Towering shelves with every shade and weight of paper. Five pairs of scissors, staplers, tape dispensers and plenty of white out for those black blobs on your copy. Need something typed, faxed, printed, laminated ? At the last minute? No problem. She refused to charge for copies that weren’t perfect. And if you couldn’t pick up your work until after five, she would leave it in a box outside.
Those regulars proficient with the printers were welcome to make their own copies. Write down what you printed in the little box with your name on it, pay at the end of the month. The last few years, her husband Verne was usually there with her, inking up one of the old machines for a run of pamphlets or invitations.If
you were lucky, Edna would let you into the inner sanctum with the huge cutter. I was always in fear of losing a finger.
You knew the seasons by what food was on offer. We were rewarded with oranges and grapefruit from Florida in the winter, and, once her garden began producing, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, the occasional piece of watermelon. She stocked the freezer with popsicles and ice cream sandwiches for the 95 degree days. Come the holidays, her office was filled with flowering plants from all her grateful customers.
Word has it there is someone interested in taking over the business. The town needs the service, and I’ll still be a regular, but it won’t be the same.
Here is her formal obituary:
Edna Lucht Ross, 73, of Chestertown, died Jan. 16, 2011, in Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Ross was born on Nov. 29, 1937, daughter of the late Rudolph and Ruth Starr Lucht. She was a lifetime resident of Chestertown where she was a graduate of Chestertown High School. She began her career in 1963 working at Ross Typing and Printing in Chestertown, which she currently owns and operates. Mrs. Ross was a member of the Chestertown Church of the Nazarene where she taught Sunday school, sang with the choir and was a Caravan Guide. She enjoyed reading, gardening and boating. She was preceded in death by her infant son, Ronald Lee Ross; and a brother, Rudolph Lucht. Mrs. Ross is survived by her husband of 53 years, Verne Ross; two daughters, Karen Hurless and her husband David of Sudlersville, Md., and Barbara Dove and her husband Timothy of Galena, Md.; five sisters, Della Willis of Quaker Neck, Dorothy Hickman and Florence Sutton, both of Chestertown, Esther Cohey of Crumpton, Md., and Mary Myers of Worton, Md.; and three grandchildren, Isaac Hurless, Nicole Hurless and Danielle Dove. Friends may call on Friday, Jan. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St., Galena, Md., where funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 11 a.m. Burial in Crumpton Cemetery. Memorials may be offered to Chestertown Church of the Nazarene, 6943
Church Hill Rd., Chestertown, MD 21620. www.galenafuneralhomeofsls.com.
rachel says
Andy – I remember running over there for copies when we were having the AIDS Benefits – heaven will be a little brighter – and, possibly, more efficient now.
BankStreet says
I haven’t lived in Chestertown for more than thirty years, and I never used her professional services, but I remember Edna Ross as a gently commanding presence in the home of her sister, Florence Sutton, where I seemed to spend a lot of time when I was in high school. Hearing of her passing (and reading this affectionate note) reminds me of the many treasures of my hometown and of my youth. RIP, Mrs. Ross.
Chris Cerino says
Miss Ross was a true Chestertown original and she will be sorely missed!
kim says
Well done, Andy. I was so grateful to have her at my back door when I had the bird store. She copied my newsletters, flyers, et., al. And, yes, all the paper options was a joy. Agree w/Rachel re Heaven.
Mary Wood says
What a loss — Edna Ross
Patty Stetson says
What lovely tributes to a wonderful lady. She will be missed.