Profile Text
Birth Name: Robert Norman Ross
Date of Birth: October 29, 1942
Place of Birth: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Date of Death: July 4, 1995
Place of Death: Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, German, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Dutch, distant French Huguenot
Bob Ross was an American painter and art instructor. He was the host of the instructional show The Joy of Painting , on PBS and CBC, which aired throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and achieved renewed attention in the early 2020s.
Bob was the son of Ollie Dorothea (Helms), a waitress, and Jack Ross (born Herman Franklin Swindal), a carpenter. His father was born in Sprott, Perry County, Alabama. His mother was born in Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia. He was in the U.S. Air Force, from 1961 to 1981. Bob was married to Jane, until her death; and then to Lynda Brown, until his death. He had two children, including a son with his first wife Vivian Ridge.
Bob’s paternal grandfather was named Benjamin Franklin Swindal. Benjamin was born in Alabama.
Bob’s paternal grandmother was Rosie/Rosa Denar/Denna/Dencar/Dena Nichols (the daughter of Isaac Marlboro Nichols and Elizabeth Caroline Morton). Rosie was born in Perry County, Alabama. Isaac was born in Perry County, the son of Mathias/Matthias Hair Nichols and Margaret LaGrone. Bob’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was born in Alabama, the daughter of Jeremiah Franklin Morton and Margaret J. Stewart.
Bob’s maternal grandfather was William Madison/Matt/Matthew Helms (the son of Isham H. Helms and Malinda Deason). William was born in Spalding County, Georgia. Isham was the son of Henry Michael Helms and Mary Ann Akin.
Bob’s maternal grandmother was Ollie Lee Sawley (the daughter of James W. Sawley and Sarah Elizabeth Cooper). Ollie was born in Pike County, Georgia. Sarah was born in Georgia, the daughter of Elbert Augustus Cooper and Cynthia Caroline “Carrie” Harden.
Sources: Genealogy of Bob Ross – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Bob’s father – https://www.newspapers.com
Bob’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Bob Ross (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com