Obituary of Richard Wayne Ross

Richard Wayne Ross, 18, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away January 16th, 2022, tragically falling during a hike with friends at Cabezon Peak, NM.

 

To know and love Richard is to know the world is much darker without him. His untimely death has been very difficult for family and friends. He was easy going most of the time and a joy to converse with. He was honest and hardworking. Richard was very tenacious in his endeavors and beliefs. His intelligence combined with quick wit made him very convincing to others and gave him a contagious and much appreciated sense of humor. He believed that life was a gift and not to waste a single moment. Fear of other’s opinions did not impede him from doing and saying what he believed nor prevent him from living his best life.

 

Richard was born August 26, 2003, in Panama City, Florida. The son of Joshua Ross and Veronica (Teichgraber) Barron-Ross. He spent a considerable amount of time in Florida with his. Richard was able to experience living in several states due to his father’s service to the U.S. Navy. He was in his element when spending time outdoors. He attended high school at Early College Academy (ECA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He loved ECA and made several friends there and at the University of New Mexico (UNM) while pursuing a degree in pharmacy.

 

Richard’s intelligence and creativity shined at an early age. He loved the Cub Scouts with his mom as his Den leader.  He spent hours building Legos and mastered every size and oddly shaped Rubik’s Cube she could find him. With great enthusiasm and willingness to teach others, he started a Rubik’s Cube Club in middle school and was on the Robotics Team. He taught himself to code and developed a video game prior to starting high school. He was in the National Honor Society and received the Presidential Educational Award.

 

Richard graduated Salutatorian from Early College Academy in 2021 while being active on the swim, track, and cross-country teams.  He made it to state competition in pole vault. He was a National Merit Finalist and was awarded a full scholarship to UNM. He was also working to obtain his realtor’s license. He was a passionate guitar player and enjoyed the ukulele and keyboard, all self-taught. He willingly taught anyone who wanted to learn. Other passions he shared with friends and family were skateboarding, music, ice skating, skiing, hiking, climbing, Goodwill shopping, and Waffle House! He loved riding in his car with the top down and listening to 70s hits from a USB drive his grandfather made. He and his dad spent many hours wrenching on his Miata and other vehicles.  He and friends spent nights together in the UNM parking garage practicing in a band. His Grandma Tina moved several times to help raise him and bake cookies.

 

He was preceded in death by his great grandparents and maternal grandfather, LCDR Walter Michael Teichgraber, U.S. Navy.

In addition to his parents, survivors include his step mother Lorraine Ross, who was a guiding light, his siblings, sister: Heather Martin and husband Johnathon Martin, sister: Jessica Barron and fiancé Joseph Bland, brother: Joshua L. Ross and step-siblings: Rebecca Rebuck and Joshua Rebuck; Grandparents: Tina Blevins, Zachary Ross, Faith and Jerry Salter; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins that loved him fiercely.  Best friend: Cayden Mannos.

 

Places Richard lived:  Panama City, FL (several occasions); Carlsbad, CA; Meridian, MS; Albuquerque, NM

 

A celebration of life will be held at Riverside Funeral Home on March 4th 2:00pm-4:00pm. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Richard’s name using the following link:  americanhiking.org/donate. On that form, there is an option for individuals to make a gift "in memory of" another individual.

 

Address:

225 San Mateo NE

Albuquerque, NM