William Carroll Cross

Dr. William Carroll Cross died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 7. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a man of great character who always had a smile, handshake and a kind word to say about everyone he met throughout his life. He was known by many, loved by all who met him, and will be greatly missed. Bill was born June 5, 1933, to Jess and Adaline Cross in Kansas City, Mo. He started his long educational career when he graduated from Southeast High School in 1951. He received a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Westminster College, a master's degree in Physical Education from Emporia State University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kansas State University. Bill's dedication to positively influencing and impacting the lives of countless students began in 1955 with his first teaching job at West Junior High in Kansas City, Kan., and he continued to work in the public school system for the next 52 years as a teacher, coach and/or administrator at Brookfield High School, North Kansas City High School, Northgate Middle School and Lincoln College Prep Academy. Even after retiring from public education, he continued to serve as an adjunct faculty member at Ottawa University and Park University, teaching graduate classes in education on issues related to gangs, drugs, and violence and their impact on the classroom as well as multi-cultural tolerance and diversity in the modern school environment. Bill's desire to give back to his community continued later in life when he became active in local politics. He served on the Gladstone City Council for seven years and was mayor for two years. Due to his community involvement, countless good deeds, and selfless acts both in and out of the classroom; he was selected as an Outstanding Missourian by the House of Representatives in 2006 and was named Northlander of the Year in 2007. In addition, he received a Congressional Record from Sam Graves and was presented a key to the city of Gladstone in 2007. These awards and accolades were due in small part because Bill has served and contributed to a long list of committees and organizations throughout the years. He was Treasurer of the Mid-America Regional Council, President of the Westgate division of the Missouri Municipal League, past President of the Clay County Coordinating Committee, past President of the Native Sons of Kansas City, past President of the Northland Coalition, a member of the Board of Education for the North Kansas City School District, a member of the board of Teaching and Reaching Youth, an adviser for the Shepherd's Center, a member of the Gladstone Chamber of Commerce and the Northland Chamber of Commerce and served as a member of the Gladstone Environmental Development Group. Bill was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Westminster College and was President Elect of the Westminster Alumni Association. He was director of the Gladstone Aquatic program for 18 years, and an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts Tribe of Mic-OSay. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Adaline Cross, his daughter Tracy Tegethoff, and his brother James Cross. He is survived by his wife, Mary of the home, daughter, Carol Kroll and her husband Daniel, daughter, Malinda Hancock and her husband Bill, daughter Trudy Boone and her husband Larry, all of Kansas City, and brother, Albert Cross, of Arlington, Texas. Bill had eight grandchildren: Evan Kroll, Cole Hancock, Callie Hancock, Bryan Boone, Andrew Boone, Jennifer Jones, Sean Hoch, and Jacqueline Davis, and three great grandchildren, Emma Boone, Eve Boone and Lucas Jones. Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, June 11, at Antioch Bible Baptist Church, 800 NE 72nd St., Gladstone, Mo. Burial at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home, 169 Hwy. and 108th St. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to scholarship funds set up at Westminster College and Ottawa University in Bill's name. Arrangements: Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home, (816) 7345500.