Ross Jerome Deal

Oconee County, SC—Ross Jerome Deal, 62, husband of Pat Byrnes Deal, of 35 Truckhouse Road, Severna Park, MD, formerly of Walhalla, died Monday, September 14, 2009, at his residence. A native of Oconee County, Mr. Deal was the son of the late William Paul and Jewel Christine Cannon Deal. He graduated from Walhalla High School in 1966. He later earned his BS in Psychology from the University of Guam and his Masters in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Mr. Deal held many positions within the Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, including Special Assistant and Advisor to the Executive Director for Diplomatic Security, Special Assistant to the Director of Administration and Special Assistant to the Chief Technology Officer. During his time at the Department of State, Mr. Deal was instrumental in helping to pull together the Department’s $1 billion budget request after the bombings in East Africa in 1998, and in funding the Karzai Protective Detail in Afghanistan in 2002. He was recognized by Secretary of State Madeline Albright for his exemplary performance. Prior to joining the Department of State, Mr. Deal served 21 years as a French and Russian linguist in the U.S. Navy. During this time, he received two humanitarian service medals, a Vietnam Campaign Medal, three Vietnam Service Medals and was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal. In addition to his wife, Mr. Deal is survived by sons, Stephen, Adrian and Michael Deal; daughters, Michelle Pasco and Sarah Langdon; sisters, Betty Burkhardt, Rachel Deal and Barbara George, all of Walhalla, Carolyn Shook of Westminster, Wanda Deal-Green of Lugoff and Paula Smith of Seneca; and grandchildren, Aiden and Conner Deal, Reagan Langdon and Sydney Langdon and Olivia Pasko and Elena Rose Pasko. In addition to his parents, Mr. Deal was predeceased by brother, Herbert Deal and sister, Charlotte Granger. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2009 from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park, MD. A local memorial service will be held at a later date.