On Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 2019, Daniel Elliott Ross, 64, lost his courageous battle with lung disease at Bridgton Hospital, surrounded by his family and friends.

He was born Aug. 26, 1955, in Northbridge, Mass., son of Omer Ross and Vera Strickland. He attended schools in Florida and later joined the U.S. Army. Prior to heading out to Fort Hood, Texas, he married the love of his life, Vickie H. Robinson, on June 3, 1977. He began the next chapter of his life in Texas in the service. He left the service after about 5 years. He then moved to Maine where he built a life with Vickie and their four children.

He worked for many years at the lumberyard in South Casco with his brother, Glynn. After the lumberyard closed, he began working between Snow’s Excavation and truck driving. He loved driving over the road, but missed his family. He finished his working career working for Bridgton Bottled Gas with his son, Josh. 

Daniel loved working on cars, racing cars, and going to the races. He loved being a part of the Bridgton community as his children were growing up. He could often be found in the dugouts coaching a baseball game, behind the plate umpiring a game, or pounding the nails into the “new” snack shack that was built at Junior Harmon Field. He did all of this alongside his wife until she passed away in 2001.

He never knew he could find another love, until he met Donna J. Hutchins and married her on July 13, 2007. They enjoyed traveling to the south, fixing up houses together, and could be found playing cards two to three times a week with his brother Glynn and his wife Teresa.

He was predeceased by the love of his life, Vickie H. Robinson; his mother, Vera Strickland; his father, Omer Ross and his wife Lorraine; brothers, David Ross, Jackie Strickland, Willie Strickland and sisters, Valenie Johnson and Willene Midling.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Hutchins; his four children, Katherine Vincent and husband Brad, Daniel Ross II and his wife Miranda, Joshua Ross and his wife Jeannine, and LeAnne Hutchins and her husband Nicholas; his stepchildren, Ezekiel Lord and his wife Kristle, Jessica Arris and her husband Chad, and Kelly Adams and her husband Rich; his brothers, Glynn Ross and his wife Teresa, Karl Ross and sisters Virginia Catruch, Melinda Houston, and Michelle Ramsey. He has 16 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and his one and only great-grandson “EJ.” 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Bridgton Town Hall on North High Street in Bridgton. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Lung Association in memory of Daniel Ross. If you wish to post any online condolences, there will be a Facebook event called Celebration of Life: Daniel E. Ross.