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Obituary for James A. Cross
James Arthur Cross, age 83 of Charleston, IL, died Monday, October 25, 2021, at the Odd Fellow’s Harmony Center in Mattoon, IL. James was born September 25, 1938, in Clay County, TN to William Raymond and Mary Lucinda Cross. He married Betty Louise Cross, and they had an infant daughter, Merry Louise Cross. Both preceded him in death. He married, and later divorced, Janet Marie Cross. They had four children: James (Ciara) Cross of Mattoon, IL, Susan (Doug) Woodyard of Ashmore, IL, Shirley Cox of Charleston, IL, and Carolyn (Bob) Patterson of Champaign, IL. James also had eight grandchildren: Tiffany (Alan) Ingle of Lerna, IL, Cory Woodyard (Kelsey Nichols) of Ashmore, IL, Bobby Patterson of Champaign, IL, Crystal Cox of Charleston, IL, Abraham (Kyndra) Cox of Shelburn, IN, Chelsy Lorance (Spencer Ridey) of Oakland, IL, and Aubrianna and Tynslee Cross of Mattoon, IL; eleven great-grandchildren: Kindyl, Gweyn, Liam, and Kayden Ingle of Lerna, IL, Haylee and Oakley Woodyard of Ashmore, IL, Dakota Cox of Charleston, IL, Kaydence Hayes of Mattoon, IL, and Savannah, Wyatt, and Archer Cox of Shelburn, IN. He is survived by a sister: Hazel (John) White of Davenport, FL. He was also preceded in death by four brothers: Fred, Ted, Floyd, and Willie Edward; five sisters: Mae, Helen, Ruth, and twin infant sisters; and a son-in-law, Russell Cox. James was a veteran of the United States Army and the United States Air Force. He served as a military police officer trained in accident reconstruction, and was part of the Honor Guard when President Kennedy was in Germany. He held many jobs over the course of his life, including farmer, police officer, mechanic, bus driver, semi-truck driver and welder. He often joked that he was a “jack of all trades, master of none.” He enjoyed building and driving stock cars, playing pool, slot cars, NASCAR, and going to auctions. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Krabel Funeral Home in Oakland, IL. Military rites will be held at 10:00 a.m. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Arcola V.F.W. and American Legion Post 7862.
