Emory Gross

WILSON - Emory Alexander Gross, 84, of Wilson and Southern Shores, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

He was born on April 19, 1927 in Chicago, IL, the son of Henry N. and Julia H. Gross. He was educated in public and private school in Illinois and Maryland. He enlisted in the US Army in May 1944 and served in the Philippines and China. Emory majored in chemical engineering at the University of Virginia and spent 35 years in the chemical and nuclear power industries with Olin Corp, General Electric and Celanese, retiring from the latter as vice president of operations. He then founded Fire Suppression Systems and served as its president and CEO until he retired again in 2002. At the time of his death he was general partner of GFP-LP and a director of Norfleet Products. He was an officer and or director of a number of commercial, professional and public boards and commissions. His loves were his family, his work, golf and sailing, in that order.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends at the home, Thursday, 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Marianne Douglass Gross; daughters, Sarah R. Beddingfield of Durham, Julia L. Gross of Mechanicsville, VA and Jennifer J. Lantz of Wilson; three granddaughters, Betony S. Beddingfield of Durham and Blake D. and Emma C. Lantz of Wilson and several nieces and nephews.

Emory was preceded in death by brothers, Ernie Gross of Accomac, VA and 1st Lt USAF Bernard J. Gross who was killed in France in 1957.

Memorials are suggested to the McKinnon Fund, First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 3184, Wilson NC 27895 or to the American Cancer Society, 1207 Peachtree Rd NW, Wilson NC 27896.