Thomas Delaware Ross, Jr, of Apache Junction, AZ, passed away on Tuesday morning, September 14, 2021 at the VA Hospital in Phoenix. He was 84. Thomas was born in Silver City, NM on August 28, 1937 to Thomas Delaware and Doris Cook Ross. He was the oldest and was joined by his younger siblings, Sandra Ross Waters and Louis Ross. He served in the US Navy. He was an Optometrist by trade and worked in the Gila Valley and throughout AZ. Tom is survived by his wife, Sherril, of Apache Junction, his 7 children, Tommy (Ellie), Tamara Jones (Tom), Tanya Anway (David), Todd (Sonia), Tiffany Howard (Kyle), Tasha Mattice (Jared) and Tara Marriott (Josh), 3 stepsons, Les Sanders (Lisa), Brad Sanders (Holly) and Mike Sanders (Danielle), 23 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, his sister, Sandra Waters, his brother, Louis Ross (Linda), and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 grandsons. Military Services will be held on October 18th at 12:30pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix with a reception to follow at 2pm in Apache Junction.