Cover photo for Edris Alicia (Vanterpool)  Ross-Jones's Obituary
1930 Edris 2021

Edris Alicia (Vanterpool) Ross-Jones

May 26, 1930 — February 21, 2021

Edris Alicia Vanterpool was the second of seven children born to Arthur and Elsena Vanterpool with an eighth child adopted. Born on May 26, 1930 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, she was a self-described tomboy who climbed trees for fruit and got into the occasional scrap after school. Edris came to New York City at a young age and graduated from Julia Richman High School in Manhattan.

After high school, Edris held several jobs and even tried her hand at some modeling, landing the cover of one magazine. Most of her career was with the Bell Telephone Company which later became AT&T and ultimately Verizon. She worked in management but was called to do field work when union workers were on strike. Her tree climbing experience certainly helped when phone poles needed to be scaled.

When not working, she spent much of her time in Greenwich Village listening to Jazz and Blues in the area’s various clubs. On the other hand, she also attended debutante balls and loved to experience the finer sides of life, when possible. She dreamed of travelling and finally indulged in a trip to Spain; she spoke often of that trip, the different people she met, and the day trip over to Morocco.

Edris loved music and would sing whenever given the chance. She sang at her church, attended the opera, and kept a library of old vinyl records at home covering calypso, opera, folk music, and jazz. When not listening to music, she loved to read and could go through a book in a day or two.

Edris moved to New Mexico in 1995 to be near her surviving son, Duane. She didn’t take to New Mexico right away but thoughts of returning to New York were abandoned once she was told her only grandchild, Tyler, was to be born. So, “Nana” stayed and helped raise Tyler, watch the family pets, spend weekends for dinners and game nights, and incorporated herself into the community. She found a home and many friends at Calvary Lutheran Church where she was able to sing to her heart’s content.

Edris is survived by her son, Duane Ross; daughter-in-law, Barrie Ross; grand-daughter, Tyler Ross; and her brothers, Arthur Vanterpool and Alvis Vanterpool, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Daryl Venzen; and her sisters, Myrtle George, Edna Reed, Alda Vanterpool, Eloise Duran, and Editha Matthias

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 10: 00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m.,

Calvary Lutheran Church, 305 Unser Blvd, NE Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Edris Alicia (Vanterpool) Ross-Jones, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

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Visitation

Friday, February 26, 2021

10:00 - 11:00 am (Mountain time)

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Funeral Service

Friday, February 26, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)

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