William Mastin Cross

SPRINGFIELD — William Mastin Cross of Springfield died at 7:54 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2018, at Concordia Village.

He was born Nov. 30, 1926, in Chicago, the son of Harry Clinton and Reba Mastin Cross. He married Ruth Ellen Hartman on May 30, 1953, at Bethel Lutheran Church of Englewood in Chicago. Ruth preceded him in death in 2014.

Bill is survived by his loving sons, Paul (fiancée, Karen) of Garland, Texas, and John of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews.

During and after World War II, Bill served in the U.S. Merchant Marines. He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from Valparaiso University and received a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Chicago in 1951, a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago in 1954, and a Ph.D. in sociology from South Dakota State University in 1971.

Bill served as a minister for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America from 1955 to 1992 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and at Pioneer Lutheran Church in White, South Dakota. He also supplied the pulpits of Lutheran congregations in Michigan, South Dakota, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as Presbyterian congregations in Illinois.

Bill taught history at South Dakota State University and sociology at Valparaiso University, Purdue University-Hammond, Illinois College, MacMurray College and Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville. He was active in the Illinois, Midwest, rural and American Sociological Societies, as well as the European Studies Conference, frequently presenting papers and chairing sessions of several of the above organizations. He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church and First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville.

Cremation will be accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.

The family will host a memorial ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2018, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, with the Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer officiating. Private family burial will be at Diamond Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Concordia Scholarship Fund, 4101 W. Iles Ave., Springfield, IL 62711. Please visit boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences.

Bill's sons sincerely thank the staff at Concordia Village for their excellent and loving care for Bill during his time there.