Mr. Charles J. Gross, age ninety-five, of Helton, KY, formerly of Harlan, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 3, 2023, while at his home.

The youngest of seven children, Charles J. was born in Leslie County on November 21, 1927, to Charles C. and Lydia Howard Gross. He began his education in a one room school in Leslie County but in 1944, at the age of seventeen, he dropped out of school to enlist in the United States Navy. Charles spent eighteen months on the USS Sperry submarine with the remainder of his enlistment time served in Guam. Education was always very important to Charles and after being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, he received his high school diploma. He used the GI Bill to fund his secondary education, graduating from Union College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Charles attended law school for two years before dropping out to marry his sweetheart, Georgia Hoskins. He went on to receive a total of four degrees from Union College during his lifetime: a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science in 1966, a Master of Arts in Education in 1966, and an EDS (education specialist) in 1977, which was the first year that particular degree was offered. Charles was 30 hours away from receiving his Doctorate in Education, something he was very proud of. He had tenure at the University of Kentucky School of Law, as well as a law school in Cincinnati, OH, with a specialty in Insurance Law.

Charles taught school at the three Harlan County high schools: Cawood, Cumberland, and Evarts High School, where he taught for over 20 years before retiring in 1991. He passed his invaluable knowledge and love of learning on to Harlan County students for over 30 years before retiring.

Charles is preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Hoskins Gross; his parents, Charles C. and Lydia Gross; a grandson, Dusty Smith; along with all of his siblings: Purley Wilson, Estella Wilson, Eva Gross, Andrew Gross, James Gross, Harold Scott Gross.

Left to cherish his memory are his four children: Jessie Calder and husband, Mike, of Corbin, KY; Melonie Gross of Harlan, KY; Rayshell Margo Toth and husband, Patrick, of Knoxville, TN; Donovan Shawn Gross of Middlesboro, KY; two step-daughters: Debbie Slusher of Beverly, KY; Lynda Daniels of Middlesboro, KY; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a special niece, Remona Sherryl Smith of Helton, KY; a great-niece, Tamara Weldon of Helton, KY; a host of extended relatives as well as many dear friends and students.

Visitation for Mr. Charles Gross will be Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 10:00-11:00AM at the Harlan Funeral Home, with services beginning at 11:00. Reverend David Gross will be officiating. Military honors will be presented by the Harlan Honor Guard. Mr. Gross will be laid to rest at the Resthaven Cemetery, Keith, KY.

Harlan Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Charles Gross.