Robert Philip Gross of Avondale Estates died April 20, 2009. He was born at Fort Monroe, Virginia on December 24, 1925, the fifth and last child of Colonel Felix E and Edith Gross. He is survived by his wife Rutledge Ingram Gross and his four children Elaine Gross Wilmot,(Garry) R. Stuart Gross, Kevin T. Gross(Maria Cason) and Kimberly Gross Murray (Art) as well as five grandchildren, Eren Thibadeau, Mark Thibadeau, Avery Thibadeau Van Pelt, Grayson Thibadeau and Chessa Louise Gross. Robert (Bob) spent his early years on various military bases including Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland and Ft. Ruger in Hawaii. In 1939 his family moved to Club Drive in Atlanta and attended North Fulton High School, graduating in 1943. He entered Georgia Tech in the fall of 1943, was soon drafted into the Army where he was stationed in Europe. After approximately 3 years in the service, he returned to Avondale Estates and reentered Georgia Tech graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in December, 1949. He then moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to work with The Tennessee Valley Authority. He married Rutledge Ingram of Avondale Estates in June of 1951 and she joined him in Knoxville. They returned to Atlanta in 1952 with their new baby, Elaine, and moved into a home on Virginia Highlands. Bob and Rutledge expanded their family during the next few years while Bob worked with Robert & Company. They then moved into Avondale Estates in 1954 and have lived there ever since. Armour Agricultural and Chemical Company offered Bob a job where he became an executive and spent the remainder of his career. During his career, he was responsible for the construction and management of several fertilizer manufacturing plants throughout the country. Bob was an active member of the Avondale Estates community and made several contributions to the city. He joined the City Council as a Commissioner in 1969, and became Mayor in November, 1970. He served as Mayor until April, 1974 working tirelessly to improve the community, until illness forced him to retire. During his tenure as Mayor he represented the City’s interests in the location of MARTA’s eastern line and the Avondale Station. Additionally, he initiated the annexation of surrounding neighborhoods to provide natural boundaries for the community. Widely respected by other Mayors in North Georgia towns, he was elected by his peers as President of the 4th district of The Georgia Municipal Association in 1972. In 2001 he was appointed by the City Council to serve as Chairman of the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority. He oversaw the successful development by the Authority of the State of Georgia Juvenile Justice Building. Additionally, he provided strong leadership in the contentious and evolving downtown Avondale redevelopment. He retired in 1981 but continued to employ his unlimited resourcefulness as the designated ‘handyman’ at Ledgerly Farms in Stone Mountain, the family’s well regarded dressage stable. Finally, he spent his long retirement in pursuit of his endless curiosity through travel, his passion for golf, and quiet hours tending a large and beautiful garden at his home. A memorial service will be held at Decatur Presbyterian Church on Friday, April 24th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Walker Foundation, 355 Cedar Springs Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29302. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23rd, at A. S. Turner & Sons
