Robert Joseph Ross, RJ

The Rev. RJ Ross passed into God’s eternal kingdom February 2, 2026. Born in Dodge City, KS, to Joe and Fay Ross, RJ grew up in Meade, KS. After high school, RJ went to Oklahoma State University, where he was awarded three scholarships from the Hotel-Restaurant College. Always a leader, RJ was vice president of Student Council, social chairman of Sigma Chi Fraternity, secretary-treasurer of the Interfraternity Council, and Secretary of the Hotel-Restaurant Society.

In January 1966, RJ introduced himself to Ruth Folmar in the library room where the Sigma Chi’s & Kappa Kappa Gamma’s studied. They were married September 16, 1967 in Pelham, NY.

RJ then started his Masters of Divinity degree at McCormick Seminary in Chicago, IL. Summers took them to his dining manager jobs & volunteer church services at Glacier National Park and Boothbay Harbor, ME. RJ then had an internship at First Presbyterian Church, Austin, MN. After he finished the last year at seminary, he had a scholarship to attend a chaplaincy training program with Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

RJ was hired as Minister of Parish Life by First Presbyterian Church, Elkhart, IN. As part of his duties, RJ was to start and oversee a part-time counseling center located in the church. To gain more financial and organizational development skills, RJ earned a Master’s degree in non-profit administration as the first Protestant clergy in the program at Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN.

Named Samaritan Center, the new counseling center soon became full-time. RJ received requests from communities around Michiana to help them start their own center in various denominational churches. He formed the Samaritan Association to provide consultation and standards, and build communication among centers. The Samaritan Centers were an affordable means of help for people under stress and were based on the unity of body, mind, and spirit.

As requests poured in from around the U.S. and other countries, RJ started the Samaritan Institute and moved it by a major airport, in Denver, CO, in 1983. The staff grew to meet the demand. By the time he retired after forty years, there were centers in 172 locations in the US and Tokyo.

Some of RJ’s civic leadership included president of the board of Rotary Club of Denver, president of the board of the Colorado Trust, Parish Associate for Wellshire Presbyterian Church, and member of the Advisory Board of the Colorado School of Public Health. He promoted rural healthcare and healthcare education for high school students. He had served on the board of directors of Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, IN.

As his Samaritan colleague Dr. Blaine Rader said, RJ was known for his unique personality, sense of humor, interest in other individuals, and gentle relating: “RJ had charisma unlike anyone I have ever known.”

RJ Ross is survived by his wife Ruth, his son Brendan (Annabelle) and grandchildren Sawyer, Blakey, and Nolan, his nephews Brad and Warren and brother-in-law Lou, cousins, and many friends. Memorial donations may be made to Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Rotary Club of Denver, Centus Counseling-Consulting-Education, or the (original) Samaritan Center, Elkhart, IN.

Memorial service Tue, Feb 17 at Wellshire Presbyterian Church.