Born October 7, 1936, in Evanston, Ill., he was the son of Walter W. Ross Jr. and Margaret Ballenger Ross. Earlier in his career he taught in private secondary schools in New York, Louisville, Ky., and Columbia; later he did research for a Columbia publishing house. &bsp;

Wally is survived by his wife, Jean W. Ross of Columbia; a daughter, Chatarina Ross Etoll of Atlanta, Ga.; a granddaughter, Chatarina Quinn Etoll; a stepdaughter, Donna Costelle, of Simpsonville, Ky.; two brothers‐Robert Roloson of Telluride, Colo., and Tubac, Ariz.; and Lawrence Chaffee Ross of Lake Forest, Ill.‐and nephews Will, John, and Mac Ross.

Wally especially enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, and reading widely across a range of subjects, genres, and periods. His other interests included history, family genealogy, birding, and racquetball.

Private memorial gatherings will be held in Lake Forest and Columbia. If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please do so to the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, N.C. 28782) or the North Carolina Arboretum (100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, N.C. 28806).

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, of Columbia is assisting the family.

‐ paid obituary