Ross Garulski
Ross Garulski died on the morning of Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Boone, North Carolina. He was born in Saranac Lake on July 14, 1941, and over the course of his life he lived in Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
After serving as a United States Marine, Ross entered the Postal Service in 1964, starting at loading mail trucks and rising through the ranks until he retired as a senior executive in 1998. Over a long career he held many positions, most notably as plant manager at the Philadelphia Processing & Distribution Center, serving as the postmaster of Raleigh, North Carolina, and as the postmaster of Boone, North Carolina. He received numerous achievements and acknowledgements, but his proudest accomplishments were always for the people he mentored and advised who went on to achieve distinctions of their own.
Ross was a voracious reader who filled his home and his life with books. He was incomparably knowledgeable about the rock ‘n’ roll music and cars of the 1950s. He loved his Harley. Ross always loved food and the fellowship of meals with others, so cooking became a great passion for him after retirement. Ross placed the greatest importance on people. He treasured his close friends and neighbors, and above all, Ross was completely devoted to his family. He was an extraordinary person dedicated to reason, fair play and directness. His wisdom and formidable intellect, his advice and his brilliant humor will be forever missed.
Ross was preceded in death by his father Elmer Garulski and his mother Brickey Garulski. Ross is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Donna Garulski of Boone, North Carolina; his son Jim Garulski and his wife Liza of Vienna, Virginia; his daughter Jennifer Garulski Stas and her husband Steve of Wake Forest, North Carolina; his sister Beverly Quigley of Manchester, New York; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Burial will occur this spring in Saranac Lake.
The family will receive visitors at the Hampton Funeral Home in Boone, North Carolina, on Friday, March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Garulski family is grateful to Caldwell Hospice. Any charitable donations could be directed either to caldwellhospice.org or to the Watauga Humane Society (wataugahumane.org).
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service in Boone is in charge of the arrangements.