Ross David Elder

Ross Elder died at his Walla Walla home on December 22, 2025, after battling an aggressive cancer for four months. He was surrounded by his family and, during his last moments, was sniffed and kissed by his beloved grand-dogs, Lily, Cora, and Poppy. We all miss him so much.

Ross was born on Memorial Day, the first child of David Leslie and Jeanne Louise (Winnett) Elder. He grew up in Auburn, Washington, and graduated from Auburn High School in 1974. College was not for him. He found other ways to use his many talents. While growing up in Auburn, Ross made numerous lifetime friends. His summers were spent at the family’s cabin on Lake Sawyer in Black Diamond, Washington. He loved water skiing, swimming, snorkeling, and pretty much anything to do with water.

In March of 1977, he met his true love, Cynthia, at a party. She drove him home, and he asked her out. They were married on June 10, 1978. She was his “Idaho Woman.” Thus began 47 years of marriage. In February of 1980, they welcomed their son Joe. Their marriage and the birth of Joe were the best things that ever happened to them.

After they were married, he and Cynthia lived in Kent, Washington, for a time, then built a home on Lake Sawyer. Work took them to Boise, Idaho, then back to Snohomish, Washington, where they lived for twenty years. During that time, they made many visits to Walla Walla to see his mother, Jeanne, and subsequently fell in love with the town. When retirement came calling, they decided to make Walla Walla their permanent home.

Ross worked many jobs until he found his calling as a salesman for commercial building products, mostly acoustical ceilings. During his work career, he made many friends. He traveled for work, at one time covering six western states and two provinces in Canada. He never got tired of helping his customers get the best product at the best price. And he knew how to make each of them feel like they were the most important and only customer he had.

Ross was very artistic and creative. He had his own stained-glass company for a time. Many of these windows still adorn the houses in which they were installed. He restored antique furniture, built new furniture and cabinets, and could pretty much do anything Cynthia asked him to do. He was also a handyman who could fix and repair most everything. If there was something broken or in need of a touch-up, he took care of it. He restored three vintage gas pumps: one from the 1920s, one from the 1940s, and one from the 1950s. He finished the last one early in 2025. He took immense pride in these pumps, which are on display in his garage, also known as his Man-Cave.

Ross loved cars, automobilia, and NASCAR racing. He was able to travel to several races and was a huge Jeff Gordon fan. The Night Race at Bristol was one of his favorites. He helped to restore his first vintage car, a 1951 Pontiac Business Coupe, in the early 1980’s. He and Cynthia attended lots of car shows and always marveled at the craftsmanship and work that goes into restoring and maintaining a classic/custom vehicle. He also loved traveling to swap meets to find the ultimate bargain, watching and attending auto auctions, and any TV show about cars that he could find. His Man-Cave is full of signs, posters, and other automobilia items that he collected.

Ross and Cynthia traveled, both for work and pleasure, going to Hawaii many times and other places in the States. There were cruises to the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, five in all. And many, many trips to Disneyland and Palm Springs. They also journeyed through Greece on a wine tour, river cruised the Rhine River in Europe, and in July of 2025, his last trip, spent a month in the British Isles. There were also many trips to the Oregon Coast and Orcas Island. Both Oregon and Orcas are yearly events, and time there with family, friends, and dogs is unforgettable.

Ross was a genuinely nice guy. Ask anyone familiar with him. His big smile and booming voice are missed by his family, friends, and neighbors. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. Guys like Ross, to the people who know them, are sorely missed. He never knew a stranger and was always great at helping people feel comfortable in any situation. He could talk to anybody about anything, and if he did not know the topic, he was a great listener.

Ross is survived by his wife, Cynthia; son Joe (Wes); brother, Glen (Robin); nieces, Jenny (Chris) and Libby; nephews, Chris (Bryn), Mitch (Erika), Brad (Rachel); aunts, Adrienne and Eula; and Uncle, Skip (Carla). In addition, there are in-laws, cousins, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

The family would like to thank special friends, Doug and Jill, for their support and help during his last days. Ross and Doug had been friends since “kindygarten”. Also, the surgical nursing staff at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, who were so kind and compassionate during his stay there.

Services are being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence St. Mary Regional Cancer Center or the Blue Mountain Humane Society through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362.

We love you, Ross.