Celeste Ross, 68, of Bowling Green, Kentucky passed away on September 1, 2026 while in Houston, Texas. The Louisville native was born February 7, 1958 as the only child of the late Charles Harvey Ross and Elizabeth Reeves Ross and was raised in Bowling Green.

Celeste spent the majority of her life outside Kentucky, returning in retirement to take care of her mother. A skilled pianist, as well as singer, flutist, and guitarist, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University (IU) in 1981. She then attained an MS in Computer Science, also from IU, in 1983 and moved to Silicon Valley in the South San Francisco Bay Area. For 13 years, she worked for Hewlett Packard (HP) in Cupertino as a software engineer, and quickly rose to a management position leading software development to connect HP terminals and printers to mainframe computers. She later gained a second-level management position to direct the group responsible for integrating Sun Microsystems’ Network File System (NFS) software into the HP operating system. She often traveled for business to Grenoble, France, and became an avid skier. While at HP, Celeste met and married her husband of 33 years, Dustin, in 1993, and had her daughter, Chelsea, in 1995.

In 1996, Celeste and Dustin moved to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where they lived for 27 years, to be closer to Celeste’s parents who were also both only children. Celeste was a devoted and exemplary full-time mom to Chelsea. Celeste also worked part-time as a software engineer at Amdocs, earned a second Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Illinois, and volunteered as a social worker for a few years at a hospital and for hospice. For eight years, she taught piano privately in her home.

In 2018, Celeste had a near death experience due to a cryptogenic illness. This experience motivated her interest in yoga, which she practiced daily for the rest of her life. Celeste became an ardent reader, completing almost one book a week for the last 10+ years of her life. She also joined PEO, a philanthropic organization for young women, and spent increasing amounts of time in Bowling Green to look after her mother, Elizabeth.

In 2023, Celeste and Dustin officially relocated to Bowling Green to be close to her mother. Celeste became a certified yoga instructor and began teaching at the downtown 4Yoga studio. She also renewed her membership at the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in which she was raised, joined multiple book clubs, and relished designing and caring for her private garden at home.

Throughout her life, Celeste loved travelling both internationally and domestically. She visited at least 64 countries across all seven continents, as well as all fifty US states and fifty of the national parks.

Celeste was deeply supportive and protective of those closest to her, especially her family, and she valued time with friends, colleagues, and neighbors throughout her life. Celeste is survived by her husband, Dustin Edwards, and daughter, Chelsea Elizabeth Ross Edwards (Jared Kyle Persellin).

Celeste has been interred in a private service in Fairview Cemetery alongside her parents, with arrangements entrusted to Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home.

A memorial service open to all who know Celeste will be held on October 17, 2026 at the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 1106 State St, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Visitation will be open from 11:00 am, with services to follow at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider contributing to the Give Back Yoga Foundation (givebackyoga.org) and dedicating your donation in memory of Celeste.