Richard Eugene Cross

Richard “Sarge” Eugene Cross of Pinehurst, North Carolina passed away on June 13, 2021 at the age of 85.  He was born the oldest of eleven children to Frederick B. and Delilah Cross of Waverly, West Virginia.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Delilah Cross; a son, Wesley Cross; a brother, Alonzo “Bud” Cross, and previous wives, Sally and Donna.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel A Keefer-Cross; his children; Richard E. Cross II (Brenda) of St. Paul Park, MN; Lisa Knight (Billy) of North Pole, Alaska; Carole Cross of Fountain Valley, CA; and Brian Cross of Washington; siblings, Dorothy Keiser of WV; Howard Cross (Dotti) of TN; Fred Cross (Joyce) of WV; Joseph Cross of Ohio; Judy Hescht (Beryl) of WV; Teresa States (Mitchell) of Ohio; Janet Efaw (John); Danny Cross of WV; and Teleah Cross of WV; 6 grandsons; 1 granddaughter; 3 great grandsons, and 3 great granddaughters.

Richard spent 22 years in the armed services; 2 years in West Virginia National Guard, 4 years in the US Air Force and 16 years in the US Army as an Aviation Mechanic with 3 Deployments to Vietnam.  He retired in 1977 at Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks, Alaska and remained in Fairbanks for 35 years working for small airlines as an Aviation Mechanic.  On October 8, 2005, he was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award for his 50 years of dedicated service, technical expertise, professionalism, and many outstanding maintenance contributions to further the cause of aviation safety.  During his work in Fairbanks, he had the chance to spend 2 work assignments in Greenland and had the opportunity to get to the North Pole.  

He attended Williamston High School, Williamstown, West Virginia where he played football, basketball, and baseball.  In Alaska, he ran marathons and played softball in the Senior League.

In 2007, he moved to Maxton, North Carolina where he met Ethel A. Keefer.  They married on September 14, 2008 and moved to Quail Haven Village Retirement Campus in Pinehurst, North Carolina in April 2019.

Donations in Richard’s memory can be made to McDonald Chapel Presbyterian Church, 1374 Foxfire Road, Aberdeen, NC  28315; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929; or Scotland County Highland Games, P.O. Box 1102, Laurinburg, NC   28353.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be on Sunday, June 20, 2021 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Richard Boles Funeral Service.  No other services are planned.

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