Ross A. Binkley

Ross A. Binkley, 79, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022 at his home on Tri-Lakes with family by his side. Born August 2, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the son of Herman and Mary (O'Rear) Binkley.

After being adopted by Herman and Mary (O'Rear) Binkley, Ross was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ross enjoyed spending time in the summer at Tri-Lakes where his parents had a lake cottage that they bought in 1945. Ross attended Plymouth Congregational Church and went to South Side High School until his senior year when he moved to Massachusetts to graduate from Great Barrington Prep School. After he returned to Indiana, he then attended I.U. School of Medicine for Mortuary Science.

As fate would have it, on June 27, 1964, Ross married Bethany I. Bond at Plymouth Congregational Church. The two had been classmates and knew each other from church when they were children. For 32 years, Ross worked at Slater Steel/ Fort Wayne Allied Division, retiring in 2001. Being an avid bicyclist, he was a member of Three Rivers Velo Sports Club. He also operated his own bike repair shop from his home, Bink’s Bikes and had taught bicycle repair classes at the Y in Fort Wayne. As much as he loved riding and going on bike tours, Ross loved the lake and everything it had to offer.

After being married and having children, he loved taking his family to his parents’ cottage on Tri-Lakes where he had many found memories. After his parents passed, he took over the family cottage. Ross was known to have the first jet ski on the lake and even against Beth’s better judgement, he taught is kids how to operate it. Motor or not, he loved any type of boating and when the weather got cold, he found excitement riding snowmobiles.

While living in Fort Wayne, they were members of Plymouth Congregational Church where Ross was a former Deacon, Usher and served on the Board of Deacons. In 2003, Ross and Beth moved from Fort Wayne to Columbia City after they built a permanent home on the lake cottage property overlooking Round Lake.

Ross is survived by his wife, Beth Binkley; son, Todd Binkley; daughters, Terri (Steve) Clampitt and Tricia (Ron) Smith; and grandchildren, Makayla Clampitt, Nicholas Clampitt, Madison Smith and Jackson Smith; step-granddaughter, Alexa (Jeremy) Johnson; and step-great -grandchildren, Josiah, Jayce, Ariya and Archer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Binkley and an infant granddaughter, Olivia Smith.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 am Friday at the funeral home with Funeral Celebrant Sharon Brockhaus officiating. A private burial will take place at Highland Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given in his memory to Heartland Hospice or the American Red Cross. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send his family online condolences or sign the online guest book.