Donita Louise (Stobaugh) Gross, a child of God, died peacefully on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Green Valley, AZ. She lived, she loved, she shared and cared, she laughed, and she SANG! O, how she loved to sing! Donita began life in Centerville, IN, the daughter of the late Frank and Opal Stobaugh, on August 15, 1929. Her mother, an accomplished pianist, arranged for Donita to begin piano lessons at the age of 5. This was to be the beginning of an emphasis and love of music for Donita that would last her entire life. After attending public schools in Ft. Wayne, IN, she spent her last year at Lincoln High School in Cambridge City, IN, and graduated from there in 1946. A four-year scholarship then took her to Ball State Teachers College, now Ball State University, where she majored in Music and English, with a piano major. While there she and two friends formed a Trio of Violin, Cello and Piano, performing recitals all three years. Donita was also selected to perform a piano concerto with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra during her senior year. She graduated Cum Laude in 1950. Following graduation, Donita taught music in Griffith, IN, and Battle Creek, MI, schools. A few years later, she accepted an opportunity to return to her Alma Mater as a Residence Hall Director and was able to begin her graduate studies. Donita received her Master’s in Counseling and Guidance in 1962. Her next 13 years were spent at Purdue University, first as Assistant Dean of Women, and later as Assistant Director of Placement. Career counseling and serving as faculty sponsor made up a major part of her responsibilities. While attending an officer’s retreat of the Midwest College of Placement Association, a representative of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation invited Donita to Neenah, WI, to interview for an opening they had for a Corporate Recruiter. An offer was made and her career with K-C Corp. began in September of 1973. Later she served as Director of Consumer Services before taking early retirement in 1986. While in Neenah she was affiliated with the Altrusa Club, Women’s Tuesday Club, YTF Book Club and the Bergstrom-Mahler gift shop. As a long-time member of Frist United Methodist Church, she played the piano, sang with the choir, organized the Sanctuary Singers group and was the Church Membership Secretary for ten years. In 1985 she married fellow church member and local banker Roy Gross. Their combined loved for each other, and love of life, fostered many opportunities to travel. Destinations included Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Jamaica in the Caribbean, plus trips to much of Western Europe. Other destinations included Greece, Canada, China, Outer Mongolia, Russia, Egypt, the Holy Land, Australia and New Zealand. In 1996, Donita and Roy began spending part of each winter in Green Valley, AZ. Here she was able to resume her love of music by singing with the Green Valley Community Chorus, the Tubac Art Center Singers, Spellbound and the GV Community Church choir. In all three venues she continued to sing solos. Donita was a supporter of True Concord, Arizona Theatre, Arizona Opera, AZPM, WPR and WPT, Community Performing Arts Center all of which gave her much enjoyment. Donita established a scholarship for music students at her alma mater, Ball Ste, and later, in honor of Roy’s background with foods and love of flying, a scholarship for students majoring in Culinary Arts and Aeronautics was set up at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI. In addition to her churches, other favorite charities included the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Indian College Fund, Doctors Without Borders, and the United Methodist Commission on relief (UMCOR). Donita and Roy were also Legacy donors of the Community Fund of the Fox Valley. Prior to his death, they found time to do work camps at Heifer Project in AR, Rust College in MS, and the Blackfoot Indians near Kalispell, MT. Survivors include her nephew, Richard (Dottie) Stobaugh, Southampton, NJ; a great-niece, Heather (Sean) Duff, Delran, NJ; and great-great-nieces: Emily (Ryan), Erin and Allison; and a great-nephew, Matthew Stobaugh, Whiting, NJ; and a great-great-great niece, Hadley. Relatives by marriage include Elaine Mann, Chippewa Falls, WI, Georgene Mann, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Kenn (Betty) Mann, Ione, CA, along with their respective children: Heidi (Tony) and Janet (John); Jenny (Eric) and Jason (Morgan); Nikki and James. To be especially remembered are friends Lu Vos, Bob Kurtz, Diane Ellison, Faye Godman; Ann Sosbe, Ward/Jenks, Sahm, Walker, Doss, Klaisner, Bachman families; and our “adopted” nephew, James Weetenkamp. Grateful too is she to the Torgerson family (Vicki LeClaire) for “taking me in” when she first moved to Wisconsin. Being fully accepted by the Mann families when she married Roy gave her joy beyond words. Brad Benz, Rick Jones, and Vicki Krueger kept her well-advised and so fortunate to have her “adopted family” Brian and Sarah Phelps standing by. To any others who gave her love and/or support during her lifetime, goes her heartfelt appreciation. Donita will be placed with her husband at Shrine of Heaven Mausoleum in Neenah. If you desire, memorials may be given to the charity of your choice, or to Global Ministries, UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, New York 10081-9068, True Concord (music) PO Box 64912 Tucson, AZ 85728, or First United Methodist Church of Neenah/Menasha 108 W. Doty Ave, Neenah, WI 54956. Donita was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; her brother, Max; and nephews: The Reverend Gerald Mann and John Mann. Westgor Funeral Home of Neenah is assisting with services. Condolences: westgorfuneralhomes.com