Tom A. Cross

CHARLESTON, IL – Tom Anderson Cross, age 91 of Charleston, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.  Services, honoring and celebrating his life, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Burial with military services conducted by the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon.  Memorial gifts in his honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL  61920.

Tom was born January 6, 1928 in Lafayette Township, Coles County, Illinois, a son of M. Elmer and Esta (Anderson) Darling Cross.  He attended Mattoon schools and several country schools until his family moved to Nursery Road in Charleston when he was 9 years old, and lived out his life there.  He graduated from Teacher’s College High School, which was located in Old Main.  He served his country from 1946 until 1947 with the Army Air Force as a Personal Equipment Tech and Flight Traffic Clerk.  He received the AAF Air Crew Member Badge (Wings) and received the WWII Victory Medal.  In the service, he traveled in planes where he was in charge of personnel, equipment and supplies, thus became his love of flying.  He was a licensed plumber working for Audley Rennels, Maurice DeMeyer Plumbers and Eastern Illinois University, where he had the duties as plumbing foreman.  Tom had a rich full life of shooting trap and skeet, riding motorcycles, flying his planes and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his dear loving mother and father, his brother Jack Cross, niece Norma Darling Rennels who was raised as a sister, and nephew Jack Teel.  The Darling half siblings: Florence Darling, Lawrence Darling who was like a father to him, Ellen Henriksen and Martha Stuart.  The Cross half-siblings: Minor, Ellen Whitley, Lester, John, Gladys Branson, Ethel Viola Wright, Wanda Hamby and Alice Cutright.  He was not raised with the older Cross children but always stayed close with them, especially the Branson family.  He was also preceded in death by his dear companion, Karen Fuqua.

Tom is survived by his sister, Betty Cross Teel Beatty and her children, Jim Teel and Linda Sue “Sis” Teel Peterson, the children of Norma Darling Rennels; Dan and Dave Rennels and Ann Darling (Joe) Brandenburg and their families with whom he spent many holidays.  He was cared for in his final years by Ann, Joe and Dave.  Also surviving are nieces and nephews on his maternal side: Logan Darling, Sue Green, Lynn Bobzin, Bud Henriksen, Kathy Eddy and many nieces and nephews of the Cross families.  He also leaves the family of Karen Fuqua with whom he spent over 25 wonderful years.

The family thanks Charleston Rehabilitation & Care Center and Lincolnland Hospice for their wonderful care of Tom and Adams Funeral Chapel for all of their assistance.   Also, a thank you to the staffs of the Airport Steakhouse, Lincoln Garden, and McDonalds for all their care and friendship and a big debt of gratitude to Dan Cunningham, Dick Stark and Terry Noble for their friendship and guidance. 

As Tom always said when he left….Adios!!

Funeral ServiceThe funeral service celebrating the life of Tom Anderson Cross was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel with Mr. Eric Zeller officiating.  Several family members and friends shared memories of Tom.  Musical selections included "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace", "On Eagle's Wings" and  the "Irish Blessing".  Burial with military honors followed in Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon.    Pallbearers were:  Dave Rennels, Dan Rennels, Brian Seiler, Nathan Seiler, Tim Brandenburg, Todd Brandenburg, Howard Hunt and Sandy Staszak.  Members of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 and the American Legion Post #93 combined honor guard and members of the Illinois National Guard Military Funeral Detail conducted the military honors.  Participating were: Mike Zimmerle, Detail Commander; Dale Downs, Chaplain; Pat Shannon, Bugler; Jessie Stephes, Color Bearer; John Gelb and Bill Reed, Color Guard; and Paul Buerster, Gary Grounds, Darrell Nees, Chet Campbell, Dave Finley and Eugene Winnett, Riflemen.  SGT Carman and PFC Smith folded and presented the flag.  Dan Cunningham presided at the cemetery, sharing memories, reading a poem titled "The Dash" and closing in prayer.