GIRARD — The city’s former police chief, Anthony M. “Buster” Ross, 96, died Sunday at Shepherd of the Valley.

It was just five months after he’d shared his musical talents there by singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to honor local veterans.

Ross, an Army veteran and resident of Shepherd of the Valley, was among many veterans in attendance for the official dedication of the World War I and World War II Veterans Memorial Bridge located west of the nursing home on Tibbetts Wick Road.

“This was a great event,” Ross said as he and other veterans were given flags, pins and other items from members of local American Legions, Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and Disabled American Veterans chapters.

His obituary from Blackstone Funeral Home concludes: “God Bless Anthony, and may he sing forever.”

A SOLDIER

Ross received his draft notice at 18 while being a senior at Girard High School, according to his obituary from Blackstone Funeral Home; he opted to serve his country over deferment in May 1943. He served in World War II in General George Patton’s Third Army, Sixth Armored Division, and Fifth Infantry.

He received several honors including four bronze battle stars awarded for meritorious service in ground combat against the armed enemy, Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Ardennes, Central Europe, Rhineland, Victory medal, Sharp shooter medal, and more. After crossing from Luxemburg into Germany, Ross spent 12 hours in a foxhole manning a .30 caliber air-cooled machine gun. He was later sent to Hereford, England and spent one month recuperating from a severe case of frostbite and trench foot. When he returned to his unit in Germany the war in Europe had ended; he attained the rank of corporal at discharge.

BACK HOME

Back home in 1946 he was awarded his high school diploma.

He met his wife, the former Marie Ciminero and they were married June 16, 1951, together for 68 years. She died Oct. 14 last year.

Three years later Ross was appointed to the Girard Police Department, its first juvenile officer; he was promoted to captain in 1960 and became chief in 1973.

In May 2003, however, Ross was accused of hitting a local businessman with a city car — twice. Ross pleaded innocent and declined to comment, but his lawyer called the allegations “false and frivolous.”

The next year, Ross was presented a resolution from city council expressing “deep appreciation and thanks to police Chief Anthony “Buster” Ross for his 50 years of faithful and devoted services to the city of Girard as a police officer and as a citizen.”

He retired in 2005.

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