Charles Thomas Ross | Eastern NC Now

    Charles Thomas (Tom) Ross of Chocowinity died at age 83 on December 12. 2025. Tom was born in Albany, Georgia to Ivy and Elmer Basil Ross and graduated from Albany High School, where he excelled in sports. He received a football scholarship to the University of Georgia in Athens and his BBA Degree in 1964. He was a US Army Intelligence officer between 1964 and 1966 and served in South Vietnam. He attended Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, Tennessee where he received his JD in 1969. In 1969-1970 he clerked for Judge Naomi Morris on the NC Court of Appeals. From 1979 until 2011, he opened a private practice in Winston Salem, North Carolina. During that time, he was the co-owner, editor and publisher of the Sports and the Courts Newsletter, Co-author of Sports and Law, West Publishing Company,1984. Between 1970 and 1975, he successfully argued for rezoning the West End area of downtown Winston Salem and acquired a National Historic Preservation District designation. He was President of the Young Lawyers Division and Board of Governors of the NC Bar Association between 1976-1977. Member of the American Bar Association (ABA) between 1975 and 1979 serving as a delegate of the ABA House of Delegates and the ABA committee to re-accredit law schools.

    He was licensed to practice in the NC State Courts, three federal District Courts in NC, the Third and Fourth US Circuit Courts of Appeals and the US Supreme Court.

    Tom is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Diane Pipkin and their daughters Ivy Caroline Ross of Ashland Oregon and Elizabeth Anne Creech and her husband Thomas Ancrum Steffens of Washington North Carolina, granddaughters Loren Thompson and Stella Thompson of Ashland Oregon. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and stepdaughter Mary Katherine Creech.

    A memorial service will be held at later date.

    The family requests memorials be made to East Carolina University Health Foundation Gift for the Service League of Greenville, Hospice House or a charity of the donor's choice.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Ross family.