ALBERT CLYDE GROSS
1925-1988
The Early Years
Albert Clyde Gross was born in Weiser, Idaho on 29 May 1925,
just three days after his mother, Julia White, turned 18. She
and Clyde’s father, Albert Columbus Gross (Shorty), married
in Payette, Idaho, on 17 October 1925, when Clyde was about
5 months old. This union lasted only a few months, and they
were divorced on 19 July 1926.
Julia & Albert C. Gross
Family records show that Julia married Amos Orlando
Tilford in Vale, Oregon on 10 July 1926. Dad said
that Amos was good to them and that he gave Dad a
licking every time he needed it—and he needed it
often! Amos and Julia had a daughter, Cleta Irene
Tilford, born 15 May 1927, in Weiser, Idaho. Few
records have been found on this family, but they are
shown on the 1930 Idaho census in New Meadows,
Idaho, where Amos worked as a laborer. Later, Amos
Keith Tilford, born 01 January, 1931, and Julia Mae
Tilford, born 28 April 1932, in Weiser, Idaho, joined
the family, but Clyde was sometimes left in Weiser.
Thomas Franklin Gross (Uncle Frank), Shorty’s brother,
Julia & Amos Tilford
and Ila Mae White (Aunt Mae), Julia’s sister, were also his caregivers. Clyde’s father, Albert
Columbus, was living in Weiser with Frank and Mae at the time of the 1930 Census.
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Julia divorced Amos on 29 August 1944, and then married Jesse
Kinney on 27 December 1944, in Weiser, Idaho. I asked Mom
how Grandma Jude ended up in Lakeview. The story goes that
when logging got bad in Cascade and New Meadows, Amos
took her down to Lakeview in search of better timber to log, and
they met Jesse at a service station while they were there.
According to Winona, Jesse was all done up and charming, and
he and Julia “took up” with one another. Mom described it as
“Tobacco Road.” Alan heard that Jesse found Amos and had
words with him because Julia and the children were living in a
shack with no money. He told Amos that was no way to take
Julia & Jesse Kinney
care of a woman. Jesse took Julia in and all her kids, and never
looked back.
Clyde attended school in Tamarack, near New Meadows, and in Weiser. He was about eight
years old when Grandma Jude (Julia White Gross Tilford) took him to Mae and Frank’s with a
bag of clothes. She told them that she didn’t want to take care of him any more. Later she
wanted him back, but Clyde wouldn’t go and Aunt Mae wouldn’t let him. Grandma Jude and
Amos later lived across the street from Uncle Frank’s. Alan remembers that Grandma Jude said
she felt Clyde would be better off if he stayed in Weiser.
Uncle Frank and Aunt Mae
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Growing Up
Clyde met Winona Lurene Williams from the
Sunnyside area at the skating rink down behind
the train depot in Weiser. He could really skate.
Mom liked another guy, but every time she looked
around, there was Clyde. She finally decided to
start going with him. They were engaged before
he left for the Army, when Mom was just 17.
Grandpa Williams felt that since she was engaged,
she shouldn’t go to dances or even skating, and he
didn’t let her. She said she spent her time
studying.
Once in a while she would get to go skating with
Clyde & Winona about 1942
Aunt Toots and Loralee Baker.
He left school in September, 1943, at age 18, to join the
Army during World War II. Mom said that he could
have joined the Air Force, but he chose the medic in the
Army because he liked the ground under his feet. He
was sent to Camp Berkley, Texas, for basic training,
and then came home until December. He then was sent
first to California and then shipped out overseas. He
served as a medic in the Pacific, and those memories
were seldom shared with anyone. In addition to those
dark memories, he returned with health issues that
would recur throughout his life.
Corporal Clyde Gross
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Clyde’s father, Albert Columbus, was drafted into the
Army at age 38. He served on the Al-Can highway
in Canada. Mom said that he could have avoided
going into the Army, but he chose to go. He was able
to come home on leave in time to see Clyde before he
went overseas.
Albert Columbus Gross
Because Clyde was living with Uncle Frank and Aunt
Mae, Mom got close to his cousin, Aunt Toots (Luella
Gross). Uncle Frank drove a delivery truck and went
home for lunch every day. He always came by the
school at lunch to pick up Toots, and then returned her
back in time for school. Mom started going home with
her, too.
Clyde, Winona, Toots, Austen
Clyde was described by Winona’s little
brother, Gilbert, as a kind, good man who
taught those traits to him. Clyde would
always let Gilbert go along on their dates,
even though Winona would tell Gilbert
beforehand, “Don’t even ASK!” But he always did, and
he usually went along!
Clyde & Gilbert
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Married Life
Clyde returned from the service on 5 February 1946 and he and Winona were married in
Caldwell, Idaho on 22 February 1946. He worked at a service station, and later at Clabby
Motors. At Clabby’s, he was a front end man, who pumped gas, did retreads on tires, and
changed oil. Aunt Toots and Uncle Austen Wise were already married when Clyde and Winona
got married.
Mr. & Mrs Albert Clyde Gross
February 22, 1946
Winona Lurene Williams Gross
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Two children were born to Clyde and Winona. Amy Lurene Gross was born 20 April 1948, and
Alan Clyde Gross was born 4 May 1951, both in Weiser, Idaho. Winona stayed home with the
children for a short time, and then returned to the Weiser Flour Mill where she had worked since
graduation from Weiser High School on 10 May 1944.
Alan Clyde Gross,
about 1951
Amy Lurene Gross,
about 1951
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Clyde and Winona lived on the corner of East Court Street and Eleventh in Weiser, next door to
Uncle Frank and Aunt Mae. Then in February 1954, Winona decided they should move to a
larger home at 536 East Park Street in Weiser. She said that they used Amos’ pickup, and she
and Grandpa Mae loaded it up for the move. This was the family home for over thirty-five years.
After Clyde’s death in 1988, she sold the home and moved to an apartment in Weiser.
It was the home on Park Street where Grandma Amy Robinson Williams stayed as she suffered
with cancer. Winona said that it was fortunate that they had moved to the bigger house so that
there was room for Grandma Williams to stay there. Instead of staying in the hospital, she came
to Clyde and Winona’s. Dr. McGrath taught Clyde to give her shots for the pain, and he
arranged with Mr. Clabby to run home each day at the given time to give Grandma those shots.
Gilbert shared the story about the refrigerator Dad bought for Grandma Williams. She was
tending Alan and me during the day, and she needed a refrigerator to keep the milk cold for us.
Grandpa Williams wouldn’t buy her one, so Dad got her one for $100. That made Grandpa
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Williams mad, so he bought her a better one and made them pick up the one Dad bought. I’m
sure Dad was just happy that Grandma Williams had a refrigerator!
Grandma Williams passed away on 17 March 1954, after her children were gathered together
one last time and a family picture was taken. She lingered to await Gilbert’s arrival from Japan
where he was stationed in the Air Force.
Clyde left Clabby Motors and went to work for the U.S. Post Office. He was friendly and
helpful to all who came to the post office. I remember different people coming to the house in
search of special packages that he had searched for.
Family Life
Dad worked hard to provide a nice home and opportunities for his family. He liked
things to be in good order. Occasionally, Mom and I would start a project that turned
out badly. One day we decided to knock down the partial partitions between the
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living and dining rooms. We made a big mess, and of course Dad had to finish the job. Another
time we decided to paint my bedroom a very bright pink. In the process we managed to get paint
all over the wood floor, so we had to buy carpet to cover it up. Dad had to fix that mess too,
snorting and blowing the whole time.
He solved the storage problems in my room by building a desk and bookshelves on one side, and
a storage area for the sewing machine and more bookshelves on the other side of the window. I
enjoyed having that extra space.
In order to keep the lawns looking nice, Dad would set out little blocks of wood to show us
where to move the sprinklers on the lawn. Then he would tell us what time to change it. We had
to fit it in between swimming and playing with friends.
While Amy and Alan were young, Clyde was involved in their activities. He coached Alan’s
football teams, Little League baseball, and worked in the Cub Scout program. He took the time
to come to all of Alan’s ballgames. “He taught me how to hunt, fish, and enjoy the out of doors.
He was a great guy,” Alan said. Dad also cleaned all the birds they shot, and he also cleaned
most of the fish.
In the fifties, Clyde and Winona went together with the neighbors across the alley, the
Benningfields, and built a small cabin in McCall, Idaho. We loved to water ski and play at the
lake. Clyde always had to wear a shirt because the sun gave him large welts on his skin. Big Al
(son Alan Gross) remembers that no matter how rough the lake became or how late it got, Griz
would always pull us one more time. “I really appreciated him for that.”
Alan said Dad got his nickname “Griz” when Alan was a teenager playing football. When he
and his buddies would come home late after a game, Dad would get up and fix them something
to eat. His beard looked gray and bushy, like a silver-backed grizzly bear, and the name stuck.
Dad always fixed up breakfast, and he always fixed Alan steak before football or basketball
games.
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Boyd D. Roberts
and Amy L.
Gross Wedding,
Sept. 9, 1967, in
Weiser, Idaho
When Boyd and I were married and went off to school, Dad often wrote notes on mail that was
sent to us. He also paid the postage on mail I sent them! He sent us the Weiser newspaper for
several years and wrote notes to us on the wrapper. He was acquainted with many residents of
Weiser, and he enjoyed sitting on the back steps waving at folks as they went by.
Alan’s Graduation, U of I
Jan, Little Al, Nona, Alan, Jana, Clyde
Alan Clyde Gross and Jan Hunt Wedding,
May 4, 1974, in Potlatch, Idaho
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Grandkids
Alan and Alisa remembered specific things about the Grandpa’s house on Park Street. They
mentioned the planter box that Grandpa made, the white fireplace with the screen, and the
Serenity Prayer that hung in the kitchen. They remembered Pierre the poodle, and the garage
which was a magical place filled with tools, the boat, and other interesting things. Alisa
remembered the big snowball bushes and that she got to pick them off.
Winona, Alan Roberts,
Jana Roberts, Clyde
Weiser, Idaho,
around 1972
Wende remembered the kitchen drawer where treats including Circus Peanuts could be found.
The kids remember the musty smell of the basement, with the dirt floor in the one side. Alan
had fond memories of “ole Red,” Grandpa’s pickup. Alan even got to drive it. Grandpa had
lawn darts, hula hoops, and a big purple bike with a basket for the kids to enjoy. They could also
take the tennis balls and racket over to the park to play tennis.
Fishing trips were popular activities with the Gross family. Wende remembers that they
would drive out to a creek in ole Red, and Grandpa would put the worm on the hook for her. She
said that whenever she told Grandpa that she saw a deer along the road, he would say, “Oh, you
did not!”
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Alan and Jana fishing with Grandpa,
July 4th, 1976, at Klootchie Creek
Grandpa and Jana were especially close. In her words, “I had always considered myself
Grandpa’s favorite. Whether or not I was didn’t really matter, because he made me BELIEVE
that I was!! Everyone probably felt that way. That’s what was so special about him.”
Jana remembered that Grandpa always let her sleep in the white canopy bed that was so high off
the ground! It had a hot pink fur type blanket, and he said that was where she got to sleep when
she was there. She doesn’t remember that she ever had to share it with Alisa or Wende; maybe
they were too young. Grandpa would tuck her in to that huge bed that was SO beautiful. “I felt
like it was heaven laying in that bed! It had very specific memories to me—the smell of his
smoke, the smell of his Old Spice, the feel of the furry blanket, and the sensation of thinking I
was so high off the ground, but mostly feeling like I was Grandpa’s favorite person in the whole
world. He never made me feel stupid, or fat, or ugly, or anything negative; just loved. That’s all
I ever felt when I was with him.”
Grandpa shared special experiences with Jana. He would take her for rides in the truck, to visit
friends, shopping, over to the post office, and they would talk. He told her all about being in
World War II and sat her down one day when she was around 14. He said, “Janny, now you
NEVER let boys touch you! Those boys want one thing and one thing only! You’re a good girl
and I don’t want you getting into trouble!” She was horrified and embarrassed and stunned. He
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told her about the infections that the soldiers got and how he had to give them shots and take care
of them. He wanted her to be good and smart and go to college and get married to a “good boy.”
She said, “I remember thinking to myself, “That took guts to talk to me about that!” Amy
recalls that her Dad never shared any war experiences with her, even when she asked.
One of Jeff’s memories was of the song Grandpa sang to him at bedtime while he ate saltines and
milk in the front room. “Good night ladies, good night gentlemen, good night everyone, it is
time to go to bed.” Another favorite saying of Grandpa Gross was “Son of a gun!” Grandpa’s
unique “bop” kind of burp is a memory that Jeff has taken as his own! That’s how he burps, too.
The kids remembered that Grandpa thought Vanna White was “the sidewinder.” Alisa and Alan
talked about having eggs and Spam, one of Dad’s favorites. Creamed corn was another food
they remembered that he liked. Another food combination I always puzzled over was the cake
with beans. Jeff and Alisa mentioned the pan size pancakes that Grandpa made for them. Alisa
remembers that even though the pancakes might get a little dark, his pancakes always tasted
good.
“Hardrockin’ on the back
steps” with Grandpa Gross was
another memory of all the
grandchildren. Grandpa waved to
everyone as they went by. The kids
liked to signal to the
truckers to honk as they
went by.
Honkin’ for Trucks!
Julie, Alisa, Jordan, Wende, and
Jeff
They also distinctly remembered that Grandpa always wore white, “wife-beater t-shirts,” the
ones without sleeves, and they described the runs and holes in them.Grandpa patiently let the
kids comb his thinning hair. Jeff remembered when Julie cut her hair and saved it for Grandpa
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so he could put it on his head. Alisa said that
Grandpa always wanted some of her blonde hair so
he could make a wig for himself.
Boyd and Clyde could often be found at the
kitchen table playing cribbage. Alisa said, “I can’t
hear the word “cribbage” without hearing his voice
say, ‘A fifteen two, and a fifteen four.’”
Boyd remembers that Clyde would give you the
Griz in the kitchen
shirt off his back and would help anyone in need.
He often would take out a loan to help his kids or just to get them through a ‘crisis’ they thought
they had. He was kind to everyone, but despised hypocrisy.
Boyd says, “He was a great
father-in-law and never
meddled! I don’t recall that he
ever missed a big special event
for any of the kids as they were
growing up.” Boyd says,” They
don’t come much better than
that!”
Clyde with Alan Boyd Roberts, March 1969
Alan (“Little Al”) remembers when Grandpa and Grandma came to Astoria and he had a
ballgame. He was to pitch until he put his finger in a pop can and cut it badly. Our friend, an
EMT, tried to bandage it, but it split open and bled all over the ball, so that was the end of his
pitching. Alan says he remembers that whenever he looks at the scar on that finger.
Another time, when the family went back to Astoria for a few days, we arranged for Alan to ride
home on the bus for a championship Little League ballgame in Pocatello. Grandpa and Grandma
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picked him up at the bus station and took him to the game, only to find out that they wouldn’t let
him play because he didn’t have his birth certificate. Grandpa was there by his side to support
him.
Aunt Jan shared these thought.
“One of my favorite memories of
Griz is about fishing. Before Alan
and I were married we went
fishing at Brownlee with Griz. He
loved to fish anywhere and
anytime. We took his boat, the red
Crestliner, and headed down to
Brownlee. It was a very hot day
and we fished and fished without
Alan, Jan & Clyde Gross
much luck. Finally, as the day
wore on and became hotter and hotter and the fishing became poorer and poorer, Alan and I
reeled in our lines and said we were going to take a swim.
We jumped in the water and
swam and played around the
boat, but Griz just kept on a
fishing and muttering at us about
swimming instead of fishing.
Needless to say he didn’t catch a
fish!
“Another memory of
Griz involved playing pinochle.
He and Noni and Alan taught me
how to play even before we
were married and we spent many hours at many tables at many houses playing cards. We played
from Weiser to Moscow to Clark Fork to Nampa. Griz and I were always partners as were Alan
and Noni. He was a fabulous pinochle player and always very patient with me. When Alan or
Noni would shoot the moon he would always slap one card down to the side that he said he
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would save to beat them. Many times it was the card that did. I really enjoyed our evenings of
playing cards and our time together.
But my best memory of all is how much
Griz loved me and always showed it. He
always stuck up for me and helped me in
any way he could. He treated me fairly and
was always there to help when I needed it.
He made me feel a real part of the family.”
Grandpa Gross loved sports, and continued
to help coach teams in Weiser after Alan
was grown. How he would have enjoyed
the sporting events in which his
grandchildren excelled: Alan and Jeff in
Clyde & Winona visit
Roberts family in Pocatello
high school football and baseball, Julie in
track, and especially Jordan in the NFL. He would have thrilled at the musical performances of
Alisa and Wende, and great-grandson, Chase. He would love that Jana is a social worker;
someone who tries to spread goodness through the world. He would have beamed with pride at
college graduations, missions, weddings, and especially the arrival of great-grandchildren. I’m
sure he kissed them goodbye in heaven as they came to their families. I know he watches and
cheers for each of us still.
Grandpa died during the night on 20 November 1988. He passed away from an esophageal
hemorrhage caused by varicies due to alcoholism. We were grateful that Uncle Keith happened
to be visiting at that time, so he was able to help Mom deal with his passing.
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Jeffrey with Clyde, Julia, Wende, Winona, Alisa, Jana, Alan with
Jordan at the Gross’ 35th wedding anniversary reception, 1981
As of January, 2009, Clyde has a posterity of seven grandchildren and eighteen great
grandchildren. His children and grandchildren have had opportunities to attend college and
receive degrees. The grandchildren include a teacher, a registered nurse, a social worker, a
physical therapist, a dental hygienist, a corporate accountant, and a professional football player!
Not bad for someone who obtained his GED after retiring from the post office! We hope that
this history and picture collection will help his growing family know and love their grandpa like
he loved each of us!
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Grandkids all grown up!
Alisa, Julie, Jeffrey, Wende, Jordan, Jana, Alan
at Jeff & Crystal’s wedding reception, Nov 2000
This history was written in December, 2008, by Amy L. Gross Roberts.
Much of the information was provided by Winona L. Williams Gross, with
added material gathered from other family members.
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