Vernon "Bud" Carl Gross Jr., 81, of Ooltewah went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 22, 2022, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Lancaster, Pa., on November 16, 1940, to the late Vernon Carl Gross, Sr. and Jeanne Howett Gross. Bud was a graduate of Virginia Tech. He loved his Hokies and attended several reunions over the years with Kathy. After graduation and marriage to his beloved wife in 1965, he bravely served his country in Vietnam as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Bud completed his service in the military in early 1967 after attaining the rank of First Lieutenant and took a job with IBM where he flourished throughout a 32-year-long career. Bud gave of his time freely to a variety of institutions and organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 203. He also served as an officer for the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Incorporated and ran their college scholarship program for many years. When Bud joined the Gideons in 1996, he realized his passion for sharing God’s Word and served as an officer in both his local camp and at the state level as treasurer. After moving to Chattanooga in 2016, Bud and Kathy joined Morris Hill Baptist Church where he loved serving as a deacon and on the safety committee.
Bud and Kathy relished life together for 57 years. They were frequent overseas travelers, especially after Bud’s retirement, enjoying trips to Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, the British Isles, Germany, France, Lichtenstein, Holland, Austria, Scandinavia, Greece, the Greek Islands, Egypt, Mexico, and Italy. Their favorite trips, however, occurred every summer when they went to the beach with their children and grandchildren. Bud and Kathy embraced adventure and fun. They parasailed, ziplined, whitewater rafted, and sailed with family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Bud was also preceded in death by his brother, Barry Robert Gross.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen "Kathy" Mitchell Gross, son, Christopher Gross (Angela) of Ooltewah, daughters, Jennifer Davis (John) of Anniston, AL., and Diana Seward (Neil) of Colonial Heights, VA., who collectively gave him nine grandchildren: Madison, Wilson, John-Rhodes, Ashley, Katelyn, Julia, Owen, Isabella, and Titus. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Bingham (Charles) of Lititz, PA., brother- in-law, Alan Mitchell (Faustine) of Savannah, GA., and two nephews, Alan Mitchell (Deanna) and Andrew Mitchell (Kristin).
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at Morris Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. James Click officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of service at the church. Following the Celebration of Life, family members will attend the inurnment in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bud’s name to the Gideon's International Chattanooga, Northeast Camp at P.O. Box 16041, Chattanooga, TN 37416 to continue Bud’s mission of spreading the Good News of the Gospel.
Please share your memories of Bud with the family at www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 8214 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.