Charles Hartford Cross

Charles Hartford Cross, 88, of Valdosta, died Wednesday, November 23, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy and determined fight against cancer. Charles was born December 2, 1916 in Levering, Michigan, the eldest son of the late Charles Harold Cross and Sybil Cross. The family lived in Northern Michigan until the mid-1930’s when they moved to LaGrange, Indiana. Charles graduated from LaGrange High School and International Business College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. On August 22, 1937 he married JoAnn E. Grady in Middlebury, Indiana. They were married 68 years. Charles retired from the Kirsch Company in Sturgis, Michigan in 1980 after 38 years. He began his employment with Kirsch as a night watchman during WWII. He retired from the Kirsch Company as the assistant treasurer and director of taxes. For the past 25 years they have made their home in Valdosta. In retirement, he developed a love for antique radios and became highly accomplished at repairing them into their original working condition.

Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Cross; son, Michael Cross (Betty) of Las Cruses, NM; daughter Christine Finland (Tom) of Thomasville; seven grandchildren, Terri (Scott) Calleson of Tallahassee, FL, Javon (Dawn) Longieliere of Valdosta, Michelle Cross of Los Angeles, CA, Megan (Jim) McGinnis of San Diego, CA, Jason (Beth) Finland of Robbinsville, NJ, Jaime (John) Emry of Roswell, Jennifer Finland of Cornelia; one sister, Audrey White of LaGrange, IN, one brother, Douglas Cross of Modesto, CA; great grandchildren, Savannah and Sierra Calleson, Anthony Cross-Thomas, Thomas and Brent Finland. Mr. Cross was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Ethelyn Cross Price.

Funeral services for Mr. Cross will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 26, 2005 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Reverend Richard Pieplow of Messiah Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Thomasville. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, P O Box 1292, Albany, GA 31702. Condolences may be conveyed on line to the family on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602