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David Ross Lonsberry


Ross Lonsberry lost his ten-year valiant battle with cancer on May 4, 2014. Ross was born on February 7, 1947, in Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Watson, Saskatchewan.

A professional hockey player, Ross signed with the Boston Bruins in 1964, and began his career playing for the Estevan Bruins in Estevan, Saskatchewan. He was member of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Memorial Cup Champions.

He went on to play three years in Oklahoma City with the Oklahoma City Blazers, the top affiliate of the Boston Bruins.

In 1969, Ross was traded to the Los Angeles Kings where he was an NHL All Star in 1972 and led the Kings in scoring. Coveted by the Philadelphia Flyers, he was traded in 1972 where he played six seasons. Ross was a part of the memorable Stanley Cup Champion Broad Street Bullies teams of 1974 and 1975.

Traded to Pittsburgh in 1978, Ross played three additional years and ended his 15-year professional hockey career.

Ross met and married his wife of 43 years, Wahnita, while playing for the Kings. Following his retirement from the NHL, the family returned to Southern California. Ross began a second career as a commercial insurance broker until his retirement in 2013.

He is survived by his wife, Wahnita, three children: Heather Henry of Valencia, Kyle and Alison of Acton, nine adoring grandchildren: Emily, Elizabeth, Erin and Brendan Henry, Natalie and Kayla Lonsberry, Brooklyn Kemp, Jacob Frank, and Mason Lonsberry. Ross is also survived by his sister, Norma (Mike) Hataley, and brother, Bob (Joan).

Ross was predeceased in death by his parents, Morley and Pauline.

A Mass will be held to honor Ross on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Saint Kateri Church, 22508 Copperhill Drive, Santa Clarita. A reception and celebration of Ross' life will immediately follow in Slattery Hall adjacent to the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Ross Lonsberry may be made to Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, 3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148.

We will miss you darling husband, father and papa, and hold you forever in our hearts.


Two-time Stanley Cup winner Lonsberry dies at 67

Ross Lonsberry, who helped the Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, died at a California hospital Sunday following a long battle with cancer.

The Flyers confirmed the news Monday. Lonsberry was 67.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to Ross' wife, Juanita, and the Lonsberry family," Flyers chairman Ed Snider said. "Ross played six and a half seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, including our Stanley Cup teams. He was a hard-hitting, two-way player who contributed greatly to our success. I have very fond memories of Ross as a player and a friend, and he will sorely be missed."

Lonsberry played for Hall of Fame coach Fred Shero during the championship seasons in the '70s, serving primarily as a defensive forward on the team's second line with Rick MacLeish and Gary Dornhoefer. He scored 32 goals for the Flyers in 1973-74. He had four goals and 13 points in 17 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1974 when the organization won its first Stanley Cup.

He finished his career with 256 goals, 310 assists and 566 points in 968 games spanning 15 seasons with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. He had 21 goals and 25 assists in 100 career playoff games.

Lonsberry was traded by the Flyers to the Penguins in 1978 and he spent the final three years of his career in Pittsburgh before retiring in 1981.

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