Ross Thomas Naro

Mass of Christian Burial for Ross Thomas Naro will be 10 a.m., Friday, March 7, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with Father Paul Eichhoff officiating. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Army will follow at Ward’s Grove Cemetery, Foyil, under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Thursday 1-7 p.m., and family will greet friends 5-7 p.m. A prayer service will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Ross passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Claremore Veterans Center at the age of 93.

The son of Salvatore and Marie Sadoti Naro was born September 12, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. There he would later attend school from elementary to high school, graduating from East Technical High School in 1940. After the outbreak of World War II Ross was called to serve in the United States Army. He was sent to Ft. Sill in Oklahoma for training and was later stationed at Camp Gruber. One day while on leave Ross found himself in a small cafe in Sallisaw. There he met a young waitress named Georgia Bethel. They were married five months later on June 12, 1942 in Ft. Smith Arkansas. Shortly after they were married Ross was sent overseas. He arrived in Normandy just one day after the D-day invasion. Over the next several months his unit went through Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and the Ardennes. After his discharge, Ross and Georgia returned to Ohio. Over the next few years Ross worked as a machinist, opened a grocery store with his family, and drove a cab. However in 1949 he decided to leave Ohio, and he and his family moved to Sallisaw, Oklahoma. There he found employment at the Oklahoma Cresote Company. A few years later they moved again this time to Tulsa. He then worked for a couple of companies before starting to work for American Airlines in 1951. He retired in 1976 after 25 years of service. In his spare time Ross enjoyed wood working. He was a member of American Legion Post #141, DAV Post #44, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2976 all in Claremore.

He is preceded in death by his parents Salvatore and Marie Naro, wife, Georgia Naro; and brothers Sam and Tony Naro.

Survivors include his children Sheila Evans and husband Jim, Tom Naro, Rickey Naro and wife Elaine, Rose Ann Marlin and husband Bill; grandchildren, Michelle Adibi and husband Ali, Chris Evans and wife Wendy, Tomi Naro, Jason Naro, Jared Naro and wife, Hollie, Shelly Long and husband Danny, Brian Marlin and wife Chrissy, and Daniel Marlin and wife Jennifer; great grandchildren, Rylan and Rustyn McElroy, Soraya and Khatie Adibi, Alexis, Zach and Landon Evans, Kash Thomas, Trey and Jonathan Naro, Kenzie Elliott, Tucker Long, Macy and Payton Marlin and Jaxson, Gavin and Kanaan Marlin; sisters: Rose Mackie and Anne Naro; brother, Joe Naro and wife, Helen; and many nieces and nephews.