Obituary of Arthur Bernard Gross

Arthur B. Gross, age 93, died peacefully on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at East Orange VAMC. He was born in Plainfield, NJ and was a resident of North Plainfield, NJ for most of his life. He was a retired manager with the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company. In World War II he served in the Eighth Air Force in Europe where he earned the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the European Theater of Operations Medal with two bronze stars. During the invasion of Normandy, France, he was shot down over Paris and was captured by the Germans. He was a prisoner of War for one year. In November of 2011, the President of the Republic of France named him "Chevalier" in the French Legion of Honor "for his part in the Invasion of Normandy and the Liberation of France." The presentation of the medal and reception was held at the French Embassy in New York City. He was a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War and numerous other veterans' organizations. He was also a Past President of the Lions Club of North Plainfield. He is predeceased by his wife, Constance, in 1984. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Donaruma, his daughter, Marilyn Stillman and her husband, James, his son, A. James and his wife, Denise, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his longtime companion, Susan P. Nicholson. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 from 10-12 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by the interment at Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675.