Cecil Gress, 74 of Akron, passed away on March 3, 2013 at the Washington County Nursing Home. Cecil Duane Gress was born to Claude Curtis and Dorothy May Gress on March 15, 1938 in Iowa City, Iowa. He had 2 brothers and 1 sister.
Cecil enlisted in the United States Air Force June 15, 1956 at 18 years of age. He served his country in Thailand, Taiwan, Guam, and numerous stateside bases including Texas, Kansas, Alaska, and California.
Cecil married Shirley Louise Knox on March 17, 1959 and they had 4 children.
Cecil loved to bowl and work on old cars. He liked traveling and even drove the AlCan Highway from Alaska to Washington State in 1968. Cecil moved from Brush to Akron in 1996, where he was blessed with wonderful neighbors and good friends. He had a passion for fishing and had more than several fishing buddies in his lifetime. He particularly enjoyed spending time with his friends Gary and Carol Keefer in Gould, CO, and even had his own cabin on loan that they still call "Cecil's cabin."
Cecil was honored to serve his country and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Tech Sergeant in 1977.
Cecil was preceded in death by his father Claude; mother Dorothy; sister Darla; sons Duane A. Gress and Kenneth T. Gress; granddaughter Kristi N. Gress, and a great-grandson.
Cecil is survived by his son Garland E. Gress of Eureka, KS, his daughter Debra K. Welling of Arlington, TX, brother Dennis of Salina, KS, 4 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bowin Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.