Father Ross Thompson who has died WARM tributes have been paid to retired priest Father Ross Thompson, who died peacefully with his daughter holding his hand. Father Ross died in hospital on Thursday April 8. His funeral will take place at St Joseph’s, York, on Friday April 30, followed by burial at York Cemetery. Due to coronavirus restrictions, numbers are limited to 30. Father Ross had suffered from arthritis for many years but endeavoured to combat this by swimming regularly. Unfortunately, he suffered a fall at home recently and sadly did not recover. Born in Port Chalmers, New Zealand, on March 29 1942, Father Ross moved to England in 1966 and was ordained into the Church of England in September 1969. He served in parishes in Portsmouth, London, Bath and Wells, Oxford and Rochester.