Patricia Edgar Ross

Durham, NC – Patricia Edgar Ross, age 88, died at her home in Durham, NC, on September 24, 2026. She was born on September 27, 1937, to the late Louis and Esther Edgar.

Pat grew up all over the United States, her family moving frequently for her father’s job. She graduated from Gill School in Far Hills, NJ, before attending Smith College, then earned her associate’s degree from Briarcliff College.

While she was at Gill, Pat met the love of her life, John G. “Jack” Ross, at a family Christmas party. Tired of all the moves, she had told her father she wanted to marry a banker and settle down in one place to raise her family. As usual, she followed through on her goal. She and Jack were married in 1958, and after six months of his Army service in Oklahoma, they moved back to New Jersey. They started and raised their family in Bernardsville, living in the same house from 1963 until Jack’s death in 2006.

Pat was known for her volunteer work and support of local charities, which included The Seeing Eye, the American Cancer Society, and many other charitable organizations. As founding members of Roxiticus Golf Club, she and Jack were fixtures on the golf course there. After Jack’s retirement, they became Florida residents and split time between New Jersey and Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, where they could pursue another passion, fishing.

Pat and Jack loved to travel, usually with fishing, hunting, and golf as the centerpieces. They enjoyed adventures with friends all over the world on their trips, from golfing in New Zealand, to shooting birds in Africa, to fly fishing in Russia. Their last trip together was one of their most memorable, a ride on the Royal Pacific Canadian Railroad in 2006.

After Jack’s death, Pat’s second home became Durham, NC, where she spent every hurricane season to be closer to her three children who lived in NC, Georgia, and Tennessee. She loved it there, spending as much time with her four grandchildren (and her beloved cat, Rosie) as possible.

Pat is survived by her children, Jill Robinson, Lou Ross, and Carrie Fitzpatrick and husband Gib; her grandchildren Aaron Robinson, Jack Fitzpatrick and wife Mackenzie, Michael Fitzpatrick, and Maggie Fitzpatrick, her great-grandson John Ross Fitzpatrick, and her sisters-in-law Cindy Edgar and Connie Edgar. She was preceded in death by her husband John G. Ross, and her brothers Louis and Michael Edgar.

Pat didn’t like attention, so she did not want a memorial service. Instead, please take a moment to conjure some warm memory of your time with her. If you were lucky enough to know her, there should be plenty to choose from!

Mom, there will never be enough words to tell you how much you meant to us. Thank you for every lesson, every hug, every laugh, and every celebration. Thank you for believing in us and loving us exactly as we were. We hope you’re getting lots of vanilla ice cream (with a little chocolate sauce) up there with Dad – don’t let him steal any!

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the American Cancer Society or any charitable organization near to your heart. She would be proud to know that memories of her helped others in some way.