Mifflinburg Construction Worker Thomas Ross Jr. Dies at 69

Thomas L. Ross Jr., 69, of Mifflinburg entered into rest at 5:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at home with family by his side. Born April 27, 1956, in rural Kelly Township, Ross was a son of Alverta L. (Aikey) Ross of Middleburg and the late Thomas L. Ross Sr. He attended Mifflinburg schools and spent his working life employed in construction.

Family members described Ross as a devoted grandfather who enjoyed hunting, fishing, football, watching fireworks, working in the junk yard and spending time with his grandchildren. Survivors include his companion, Cathleen Wagner; a stepson; five daughters and their sons-in-law; a sister; and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Donna Ross.

Family and friends are invited for visitation today, Friday, Jan. 9, at Roupp Funeral Home in Mifflinburg. The funeral will be conducted there, and burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Roupp Funeral Home.

Ross’s death is a personal loss to a community where multigenerational households and close family ties are central to daily life. For many in Union County, informal family caregiving provides the primary support system at the end of life. That reality underscores ongoing public health and policy questions about how rural communities meet needs for medical care, hospice services and bereavement support when formal resources are limited.

As a lifelong resident who worked in construction, Ross also represents a cohort of local laborers whose jobs shape the built environment yet often come with occupational hazards and uneven access to health benefits. The intersection of aging, work-related health needs and rural healthcare access poses challenges for families and local health systems alike. Local leaders and health providers face continued pressure to expand preventive services, workplace safety outreach, and programs that support older adults and their caregivers in place.

Beyond policy implications, the immediate impact on neighbors and relatives is practical and emotional. Funerals and visitations remain key community rituals in Mifflinburg, offering space for collective mourning and mutual support. As friends and family gather at Roupp Funeral Home and Forest Hill Cemetery, the community will again confront how to sustain those support networks and advocate for services that ease the burdens families shoulder during illness and loss.