Karen "Rossi" Ross-Ohlinger's Obituary
Karen “ Rossi ” Ross-Ohlinger of Pickerington, made her transformation and crossed over on Sept 17th, 2022. A Brilliant artist, and ambassador of gentleness, she is survived by and is joined together as always with her loving husband of 43 years Lloyd ( Dempsey ) Ohlinger, sisters Marcia & Parker Little, Teresa & Michael Deep, Donna & Terry Spencer, brother Marvin & Judy Ross, and all her family, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Karen was born in Dale, Ohio to the late Merle and Russell Ross. She grew up on a dairy farm in southern Ohio, and as a young lady dreamed of becoming a fashion illustrator. After starting in art supplies at the iconic downtown Lazarus / Maceys, her many gifts and her artistic gifts in particular allowed her to move directly into professional illustration as their lead fashion illustrator prompting Columbus College of Art and Design, after seeing her gifts in the Columbus Dispatch and national magazines, ask her to join their faculty as their fashion illustration instructor and was a dedicated artist and celebrated illustrator for 50 plus years.
Her gentle illustrations have infused the world with her message of gentleness from fashion, to children’s books, greeting card companies, wall murals , creator and illustrator of the Ameriflor 92 official seed packet given to the President of the United States for the grand opening of the 1st international horticulture event in the U.S. She won national advertizing awards for her fashion illustrations, has children’s books in 8 countries around the world and 4 in the library of congress. She blesses each children’s illustration that it teaches children gentleness. The constant theme to all who knew her was her ability to radiate gentleness.
She was a brilliant naturalist, a talented gardener and spiritualist who made it her mission to protect, nurture and support nature’s place and animal rights. A vegetarian from childhood, she loves all God’s creatures, God’s green earth and took it upon herself to love and care for every living creature that was fortunate enough to cross her path. One great love was her feline friends which she saved or found homes for by the dozens. She gave to animal protection funds, and volunteered for animal care.She believed in the wisdom of the now famous Starfish story.
Her ongoing gift to the world is her endless ability to share her gentleness by example, and like love, she knew it as the eternal gift and an eternal bond that can never be broken, shepherding the world forward with each act of gentle kindness.
Karen is one of our rare souls that lives on vast levels of consciousness with her focus on gentleness. She lived it by example and by sharing her many artistic gifts. She believed gentleness was in itself an eternal art form. Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, Oct 7th at 11:00 at the Franklin Park Conservatory Palm Houses where we were married.
Remembrance tribute wall go to buckeyecremation.com
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