Frederick Ernest Gross

Frederick Gross, born in 1934 in Brooklyn, NY, passed away on August 29, 2024, at his home in Nashville, TN. He was 89 years old.

Frederick, known to family and friends as Fred, led a life marked by his strong commitment to Jesus Christ and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents Frederick and Emma [Oehler] Gross. Fred’s legacy lives on through his beloved wife, Esther [Moneysmith] Gross, and his children: Laurie [Rick] Newman, Lynee [Alan] Ward, and Don Paul [Ginger] Gross.

His grandchildren Olivia [Matthew] DeHart, Logan [Brooke] Gross, Nolan [Jaelyn] Gross, Victoria Gross, Tyler [Hanna] Newman, and Luke Newman will always remember Poppy for his humorous songs and the funny faces he always made for pictures. He enjoyed his great-grandsons, Silas DeHart and Sage Gross. He is also survived by his sister, Judy Leach, and her family.

Fred served in the National Guard for several years, and he and wife served as missionaries in Colombia, SA, and Dallas, TX, for 40 years. They moved to Nashville in the early 2000s to be more involved with their grandkids.

Possessing many talents, Fred was known for his service to others and Wycliffe Bible Translators, always willing to lend a helping hand. Whether he was repairing cars, maintaining generators, or working as a purchasing agent, he preferred to work quietly behind the scenes. He was also a proud alumnus of the Baptist Bible Institute of Grand Rapids.

Fred’s hobbies included riding and repairing motorcycles, watching the Cowboys and Titans, reading, and supporting his grandchildren at their sports games. He was quick to crack a joke and make people laugh.

A memorial service to honor Fred’s remarkable life is being planned for Saturday, September 7, in Nashville, TN (details to come). Friends and family are invited to attend and celebrate his life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (wycliffe.org/donate) in Fred's memory.

His sense of humor, his dedication to his family, and his willingness to help others defined his life and will be remembered by all who knew him.

A memorial service to honor Fred’s life is planned for Saturday, September 7, at 2:00 p.m. in Nashville, TN, at Bellevue Baptist Church. A recording of the service is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/nfvPNs2Lkog. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators (wycliffe.org/donate) in Fred's memory. Please include "In Memoriam of Fred Gross" as a note.