WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND, U.S. — George R. Grosse, a longtime executive with Wilkins-Rogers, Inc., died Feb. 12 at his Westminster home. He was 80.
A New Jersey native, Grosse attended Montclair Academy Prep School and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 1959.
He spent more than 50 years in the commodities brokerage and flour milling business, mostly with Wilkins-Rogers, Inc., Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S., where he was the company’s head grain merchandiser and vice-president of commercial marketing and sales. He continued to have sales responsibilities for the company until the time of his death.
A regular at the North American Millers’ Association spring meetings in Florida, Grosse was chairman of the croup’s Soft Wheat Crop Forecast Panel for a number of years.
Grosse’s roots were in flour milling. The Grosse and Orbe families operated mills in New Jersey and Maryland, including a mill in Clifton, New Jersey.
Grosse is survived by his wife of 36 years, Helen Magruder Grosse; five children, Richard F. Grosse (and his wife Debra) of Ashland, Virginia, U.S.; Ronald Grosse (Dawna) Irmo, South Carolina; Cynthia Ritter (Nicholas) of Fallston, Maryland.; Michelle Rosata (Christopher) of Ellicott City, Maryland; Roderick G. Grosse of Berlin, Maryland; two stepsons Edward H. Ballow (Tracey) of Ijamsville, Maryland; and David T. Ballow (Lisa) Elkridge; a sister Carol Small of Annapolis; 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 4 step-granddaughters. Memorials may be sent to Pregnancy Center North, 6805 York Rd., Baltimore, MD. 21212.