Catherine Ross

Catherine Illene (Webster) Ross was born March 21, 1945 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was 
the youngest of eleven children born to Herman O. and Willa S. (Crenshaw) Webster, Sr.  
Catherine received Salvation and was baptized at an early age in Olivet Missionary Baptist 
Church. She attended Francis W. Parker Elementary School #56. She ran Track and Field, 
was a member of the Tennis team, and an all around lover of sports. She graduated from Cris
pus Attucks High School. Catherine pursued higher education at UCLA earning a Bachelor of 
Science and continued her studies achieving a Master of Arts in Education. Putting her de
grees to work and with a burning passion to help children succeed, Catherine was instrumen
tal in establishing tutorial programs during her tenure with the Indianapolis Public School 
System. She implemented the Oratorical Program-Atterbury Job Corps Center.  
Catherine’s first love was her Son, Ronald born November 11, 1963. She met and married 
Dr. Edward Ross, “Love of her Life” for 49 years. He had sons Edward, Anthony, and a 
daughter Cheryl. Catherine and Edward assisted and supported her Mother in raising two of 
her Nieces, Celeste and Janet. Together, they navigated a blended family and lovingly doted 
on their grandchildren. They gardened, collected cars, attended the Pacers NBA and Colts 
NFL games, Indianapolis 500 Race, traveled to the U.S. Open. Wimbledon, and around the 
world. They owned many fur babies throughout the years and Labradoodle Murphy was the 
last. Catherine, owned and operated an Interior Design company while she worked side by 
side with her husband. She retired as Chief Operations Officer of Edward Ross MD, Inc.  
Cardiovascular.  
Mrs. Catherine I. Ross lived a life of service in Indiana and globally. She was a past board 
member of Broadway United Methodist Church Indianapolis, Indianapolis Police Merit 
Board, Marion County Sheriff’s Board, Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, 
Indianapolis Airport Authority Board, and Board of Public Safety, and a delegate to the 3rd 
African-American Summit in Dakar, Senegal. She chaired the Arts Committee of the         
Indianapolis Chapter of The Links Inc. and Madame Walker Building 80th Anniversary Cele
bration Gala.  
Catherine’s accolades include Keys to the City of Indianapolis on two occasions,, Johnson 
County Kiwanis Club Award, Mary McLeod Bethune Award and Sojourner Award, Fairness 
in Law Enforcement (FILE) Award, and she was a member of the Class of 2008 Hall of Fame 
Inductee to the Madam C. J. Walker Hall of Fame in Celebration of Lifetimes of Service. 
Catherine committed many years to the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and is notably recog
nized in Who’s Who Among Black Americans and dedicated her life to serving the city of 
Indianapolis over five decades. Catherine I. Ross at 74 years of age relocated to the small 
community of Enterprise, Alabama also known as L.A. (Lower Alabama).  
She enjoyed a quiet lifestyle of day trips to the beach and was known for being “Pure Cathe
rine” with elegance, grace, and upscale fashion sense, she turned heads everywhere she went, 
and was known for her smile and laughter. After a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer/Dementia 
she took comfort in being addressed as Lady Catherine, Aunt

Catherine or Cat, a nickname given to her by her first friend in L.A. She enjoyed volunteering 
at the Chill Yogurt, a family business formerly owned by The Page Group and traveling to 
dance competitions, school events and bible study early in the move. She attended Grace 
Place and Pleasant Shade Missionary Baptist Churches and sang in the Choir for a short time. 
The new loves of her life were members of her personal Caregiver Team of four years, 
Neighbors, Friends and Volunteers at Respite Care Ministry of First Methodist Churches 
Dothan and Enterprise, Alabama. She found her people in the community with similar diag
noses. The Respite Care Ministry matched her energy and the active parts of her brain. One to 
one volunteers walked by her side which allowed as much independence as possible. Cathe
rine continued to be creative with her hands, always intune with music, and was known as 
"Queen of Balloon Volleyball" during recreation, as she had a competitive nature. Catherine 
danced, interacted with presenters, and dined with dignity at table service lunches. She sang 
to her heart’s content and spontaneously directed the music in the Heart to Heart Choir and 
participated in annual Fall and Spring Choir Concerts open to the community. Catherine lived 
a full life the best she could as her stages advanced. She was always the life of the party. was 
never alone and felt safe. One year ago she entered Enhabit Hospice and received in-home 
tender, loving comfort care. In her last days the Pleasant Shade Family, Caregivers, Respite 
Volunteers, Friends and Hospice visited and called to inquire about her health as she was 
dearly missed.  
Catherine was surrounded by family as she transitioned on February 1, 2026. She is sur
vived by four children, Ronald L. (Patricia), Anthony, Edward and Cheryl Ross; grandchil
dren, Coyon, Jasmine, Ashton and Torrence; great-granddaughter, Nivea and new born great
grandson Lennix Davon and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and extended family 
and friends.  
Mrs. Catherine Illene (Webster) Ross was preceded in death by her husband Dr.   
Edward Ross, parents Herman O. and Willa S. (Crenshaw) Webster, Sr. and all ten siblings, 
Joan G. (Webster) Shemell, Herman O.(Blanche) Webster, Jr., Harriet W. Webster, Harry 
“Bim” (Marlene) Webster, Ernest L. (Beverly) Webster, Carol J. (Webster) Armstrong, Don
ald W. Webster, Russell D. Webster, Dennis R. Webster, and Ronald L. (Thelma Bell) Web
ster. “On the day that I am gone, it is finished.” ~ Catherine Illene (Webster) Ross.  

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