Margaret Kyler Ross

MRS. MARGARET “MARGO” KYLER ROSS (formerly Margaret Lucinda Kyler), was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated with honors from Frederick Douglas High School in 1942. Following High School, she was employed at Western Electric on the communications technology products team, during World War II. In 1944, she pursued nursing studies, earning a Practical Nursing degree from The Chicago School of Nursing and completed training at Baltimore’s historic Provident Hospital. Also, she attended the renowned Apex Beauty School, earning a diploma in Cosmetology and was a Maryland state-licensed Beautician. She joined the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company*, [Bell Atlantic] now known as Verizon in the early 1950’s. During her more than thirty-five (35) year career in Communications Services, she held a number of positions in Traffic, Business Services, Technology Administration and Administration Management. She was the first African-American woman to serve several terms as an elected Representative and President, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 2101, representing the body of workers employed by Bell Atlantic, Bell Atlantic Communications and Construction, AT&T and Lucent Technologies [Bell Labs] in the Greater Baltimore Area. Following her retirement from Bell Atlantic, she became a Real Estate Agent, Licensed in the State of Maryland and Member, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors. She completed continuing education studies at Loyola University Maryland and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and worked as a representative for The Hubble Company (now Hubble Bisbee) and The Otis Warren Group. Active in civic and community affairs, Mrs. Ross served as Vice President of the Herbert M. Frisby Historical Society, YMCA Board Member of the Residence Camp Committee, Co-Founder and President of Kings Landing Women (Camp Mohawk Mother’s Club), President and Recording Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland, Charter Member of the Maryland C&P* Toast Mistress Club, Membership Chairman of the Maryland League of Womens Clubs, Member-Telephone Company Pioneers Scholarship Committee, Participant-Company Solicitation, United Way Fund, Member, The Women’s Civic League and annual Flower Mart Sponsor, Member of NAACP, Disabled American Veterans Women's Auxiliary, Fleet Reserve Association- Branch #6 Women's Auxiliary and Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church. A noted achievement, , Mrs. Ross’ efforts in “spearheading a campaign to get an Olympic size swimming pool at YMCA Residence Camp Mohawk” in Huntington, Maryland is highlighted in a feature article “Never Estimate the Power of a Woman” – publications: Transmitter, September – October 1966, Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, 1966. Her recognition and awards include acknowledgements from United Way, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland, Verizon Pioneers, the Herbert M. Frisby Historical Society, Kings Landing Women, the YMCA of Greater Baltimore, Veterans Administration, and City Citation – The City of Baltimore. William H. Ross III, her husband of forty-seven years, preceded her in death in 2000. She is survived by: her devoted daughter, Gina E. Ross; devoted stepdaughter, Maureen L. Vanneman; stepson-in-law, Charles L. Vanneman; sister-in-law, Shirley E. Taylor; and a host of special relatives including two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four nephews, three nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces and cousins of several generations.

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Margaret Kyler Ross

August 9, 1923 - April 11, 2013