Kenneth Lee Cross

KENNETH LEE CROSS, age 65 years, a resident of Central Street, Elkins, WV departed this life Tuesday afternoon, January 27, 2009 at his home. He was born Tuesday, June 29, 1943 in Elkins, WV a son of the late Dellas Edward Cross and Ruby Geneva Koontz Cross who survives in Elkins. On July 31, 1966 in Elkins, WV he was married to the former Linda Jo Lantz, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Brian Lee Cross and wife Jacqueline, Mechanicsville, MD ; Chad Edward Cross and wife Kendra, Littleton, CO; one daughter, Shannon Marie Putnam and husband Jerod, Ireland, WV; and four grandchildren, Emily and Hannah Cross; and Taylor and Benjermin Putnam. Kenny was a train bearer for the 1953 Forest Festival and was a graduate of Elkins High School with the Class of 1961, where he was a member of the wrestling, football and track teams. He graduated from Mt. State College in 1965, with a business degree and while there he was a member of the Varsity Crew Team. In 1966, he joined the West Virginia Army National Guard and received his basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. In 1968, he graduated as First Lieutenant from the WV Military Academy at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, WV. He was a graduate of Davis & Elkins College in 1979 with a degree in Physical Education and received his master�s degree in Community Health Promotion and Prevention from the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He was one of the founders of Youth and School Soccer in the Elkins Area and one of the first WV State Soccer Association Presidents attending National Conferences for many years. He was the first Elkins High School Varsity Soccer Coach for several years. He was a weight lifter, and enjoyed YMCA Volleyball, and was an Aerobics, and Tae-bo instructor. He was an avid Hang Gliding Enthusiast, leather worker and whittler. He also enjoyed Fishing, Kayaking and knife collecting. He was a former member of the YMCA Board of Directors. He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church, where he had served as a Deacon and usher as well as on many other boards, including Men�s Breakfast. Kenny was the manager of the former John B. Wilt Company for many years, a company founded by the grandfather of his wife Linda. He had worked for the Memorial General Hospital in Personnel, at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort as Personnel Director from 1985 to 1987 and later worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways as Assistant Administrator and CDL Instructor, retiring in 2006. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church, 412 Randolph Avenue, Elkins WV from 5 to 8 PM, Friday. Final Rites will be conducted at the church, Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 11 AM. The Reverend Doctor Marvin L. Parli and the Reverend Nancy I. Stevens will officiate and interment will follow at the Belington Fraternal Cemetery at Belington, WV. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the First Baptist Church, 412 Randolph Avenue, Elkins, WV 26241. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for KENNETH LEE CROSS. Condolences may be expressed to the family at; www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com