Obituary for Malaysia RPCV Ross Pelton



Ross Pelton taught chemistry in Malaysia through the Peace Corps. He said his parents and sister visited him there and quickly fell in love with international travel. Like everything else in life, Pelton and his wife traveled with gusto once they got started, eventually visiting all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, South America, Australia, New Zealand and China. Pelton served as principal at Logan with no assistants, Fregin said, and volunteered to coach the school's football team as well. He said the school, which then held grades 7 through 9, had more than 800 students at the time. "That was his life," Fregin said of Pelton's commitment to the school. "He devoted everything to that."

Obituary for Malaysia RPCV Ross Pelton

Logan's first principal: Monte Pelton was admired as a decisive leader, jokester

Nov 29, 2006

La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Nov. 29--Montross "Monte" Pelton presided as the first principal at Logan Junior High School looking much like the Navy officer he was in World War II and the Korean War: muscular build, close- cropped hair and a "very forceful walk," said Howard Voss, former Central High School principal who said he looked to Pelton as a role model.

Pelton, who died Nov. 18 of congestive heart failure at age 88, was remembered by colleagues and friends as a man deeply respected by generations of teachers and students.

"He demanded respect for teachers from students," said son Ross Pelton, of Ashland, Ore.

Part of the respect came from Pelton's ubiquitous sense of humor, which softened his tough-but-fair discipline. He began most days with a joke as principal at Logan from 1958 until he left after the 1965-66 school year to become principal at James B. Conant Junior High School in Neenah, Wis., where he retired in 1981.

"Every morning started well," said Armin Gossfeld, who taught science at Logan from 1958 to 1983. "He always greeted everybody with a big smile and a joke."

Once told, "he laughed harder than you did at his own jokes," said Bill Fregin, a guidance counselor and colleague of Pelton's at Logan.

Pelton served as principal at Logan with no assistants, Fregin said, and volunteered to coach the school's football team as well. He said the school, which then held grades 7 through 9, had more than 800 students at the time.

"That was his life," Fregin said of Pelton's commitment to the school. "He devoted everything to that."

His two children said that while he spent most nights at meetings and extracurricular events, he also made time for them.

Daughter Sue Heuer, who went on to teach elementary school in Maryland's Baltimore County and in Waukesha, Wis., and La Crosse for 33 years, remembered the family's camping trips to state parks nearby and national parks faraway, including Yellowstone.

She also recalled polishing her father's white buck shoes for a Navy Reserve inspection one summer. Pelton served in the Reserves for 22 years, eventually retiring as a commander.

She said she never felt pressure to go into teaching from her parents -- Pelton's late wife, Ginny, taught physical education in West Salem, Wis. -- but thought they were proud she did.

Ross Pelton taught chemistry in Malaysia through the Peace Corps. He said his parents and sister visited him there and quickly fell in love with international travel.

Like everything else in life, Pelton and his wife traveled with gusto once they got started, eventually visiting all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, South America, Australia, New Zealand and China.

Dan Simmons can be reached at (608) 791-8217 or dsimmons@lacrossetribune.com.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2006; Peace Corps Malaysia; Directory of Malaysia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Malaysia RPCVs; Obituaries; Wisconsin

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