Charles Gross, 74, Flew All Kinds Of Planes, Owned Gross Aviation

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Charles Gross a plaque for teaching 10,000 people to fly.

He hid the plaque and never mentioned it again because this patient, easygoing gentleman-pilot had taught only 9,970.

Then, three years ago, the FAA yanked his pilot's license after he failed a flight physical exam.

With 26,000 in-flight hours to his credit, and not one aircraft damaged, he finally was tied to Earth.

He accepted this with the grace and forbearance he had shown all his life, family members say.

Mr. Gross - a major force in Northwest aviation and for 20 years founding operator of Gross Aviation Inc. at South Tacoma Airport - died Dec. 13 of cancer. He was 74.

Born in Strattanville, Pa., and reared in Mechanicsville, Pa., Mr. Gross fell in love with flying when barnstormers ruled the air.

During World War II, he joined the Army and served 22 years - the first eight on active duty, the remainder as an officer in the National Guard. He retired as a major.

After the war, he worked as an accountant, then as a purchasing agent, but finally - with his sons - turned his avocation into a business.

The family had the classic flying operation, with an oil stove against the wall where pilots and others would congregate to swap stories. They also ran local commuter routes.

Mr. Gross had flown nearly every type of aircraft, but refused to fly home-builts.

He later wrote safety manuals and helped found the Northwest Aviation Tradeshow and Safety Seminar.

"He was the consummate teacher," said his son Jim Gross of Tacoma. "He used to say: `You can teach anyone to fly. The problem is, you can't teach judgment.' "

Few things agitated Mr. Gross, and there were few times he was not in control.

"He never raised his voice," said his son. "He just gave you a look."

Once he was trying to smoke moles from the church lawn when a lady upbraided him for cruelty, his son said:

"He gave her a look that said, `Madam, perhaps you should focus your attention elsewhere.' "

Other survivors include his wife of three years, Freda Ruth Gross, of Burlington; his sons Gerry and John Gross of Tacoma; stepsons Tim Mills, Burlington, and Terry Mills, Oak Harbor; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, and three sisters. Lois, his wife of 45 years, died in 1988.

Services are at 11 a.m. tomorrow at First Presbyterian Church, 20 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma. Remembrances may go to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia St., Seattle, WA 98104.