Bob Ross

Birth Name: Robert Norman Ross

Date of Birth: October 29, 1942

Place of Birth: Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.

Date of Death: July 4, 1995

Place of Death: Orlando, Florida, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, German, Dutch, distant French Huguenot

Bob Ross was an American painter and art instructor. He was the host of the instructional show The Joy of Painting, on PBS and CBC, which aired throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and achieved renewed attention in the early 2020s.

Bob was the son of Ollie Dorothea (Helms), a waitress, and Jack Ross (born Herman Franklin Swindal), a carpenter. He was married to Jane Ross, until her death, and then to Lynda Brown, until his death. He had two children, including a son with his first wife Vivian Ridge.

Bob’s paternal grandfather was named Benjamin Franklin Swindal. Benjamin was born in Alabama.

Bob’s paternal grandmother was Rosie/Rosa Denar/Denna/Dencar Nichols (the daughter of Isaac Marlboro Nichols and Elizabeth Caroline Morton). Rosie was born in Alabama. Isaac was the son of Mathias/Matthias Hair Nichols and Margaret LaGrone. Elizabeth was the daughter of Jeremiah Franklin Morton and Margaret J. Stewart.

Bob’s maternal grandfather was William Matt/Matthew Helms (the son of Isham H. Helms and Malinda Deason). William was born in Georgia. Isham was the son of Henry Michael Helms and Mary Ann Akin.

Bob’s maternal grandmother was named Ollie Lee Sawley. Ollie was born in Georgia.

Sources: Genealogy of Bob Ross (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Bob’s father – https://www.newspapers.com

Bob’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bob Ross (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com