Ross Eugene Paulus, 89
Ross Eugene Paulus, 89, of Oldtown, Idaho, passed away on Jan. 22, 2016, from complications of pulmonary disease. He was at home with family, and left us with a sound mind and spirit, sitting in his easy chair.
Ross was well-known in North Idaho and Eastern Washington as an artisan in metal sculptures and wood inlay pieces. His work has been featured in galleries throughout the area and is best known for his Great Blue Heron silhouettes. He also gave out produce from his backyard garden to neighbors, local businesses and the food banks each summer.
Ross’ parents moved to Dalton Gardens in 1931 where they ran a successful market produce farm — Paulus Gardens. He attended Dalton Gardens Elementary School and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1945. He is a World War II Army veteran having served in Japan in the 11th Airborne, and as an EOD Technician. Ross made a trip to Washington, D.C., in 2013 with his brother, Raymond, on the Honor Flight for World War II veterans to tour the war museums. Ross was on the Army’s track team running the 440, and won awards as an excellent marksman.
After the war Ross went to Yale University on the G.I. Bill to the Progressive School of Photography. Upon graduation, he moved to Valejo, Calif., and ran a camera repair shop. In 1953, he married Betty Johnson of Coeur d’Alene. They had two children, a son Kevin and a daughter Laura. Along with Betty, they raised their children in the original farmhouse Ross’s parents built in 1932. Ross worked construction and as a millwright in local mills and mills all over the Pacific Northwest.
While living in Dalton, he was instrumental in the incorporation of the city of Dalton Gardens, he was a member of the Dalton City Council and was president of the Dalton Water Association until he moved to Oldtown in 1979. While working at Idaho Veneer in the early ’60s, he engineered and developed the blower pipe system that is commonly used today to move sawdust and chips at the mills. Ross retired as a millwright in 1998 and then began making metal art sculptures from discarded saw mill blades in his garage, where he continued to work until a few days before his passing.
Ross was born in Geary, Okla., on Dec. 16, 1926, to Gettie and Ella Paulus. He has four siblings, Raymond, Leroy, Joy and John. Leroy and Joy have preceded him in passing. Ross is survived by brother John of Spokane and Raymond of Bremerton. He is also survived by his wife, Betty; son Kevin and wife Tina of Kamiah; grandson Kasey and his partner Jonelle and their children, Titus, Layla and soon-to-be-born child Kasey of Anchorage, Alaska; and grandson Alex of Priest Lake; daughter Laura Dowell and husband Randy of Fairbanks, Alaska; granddaughter Melanie of Roanoke, Va.; grandsons Clayton and Vaughn, and granddaughter Katrina all of Fairbanks, Alaska. He is beloved by his many nieces and nephews.
Ross was an avid fisherman, hunter and cribbage player. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at the Newport Southern Baptist Church. A memorial fund is established at Mountain West Bank to help defray medical expenses for is wife Betty.
Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.