Dr. Wilton Ray Cross

Dr. Wilton Ray Cross, 94, of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away March 5, 2026. He was born August 23, 1931, in Fort Worth, Texas to Wesley and Lillie Cross. Ray received his public school education in the Fort Worth Public Schools and held degrees from Texas Christian University, North Texas State University, and the University of Texas. He was a professional educator, serving as a teacher and principal in the Fort Worth Public Schools and as a professor at the University of Minnesota and Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi where he was a leader in establishing the university's first doctoral program.

He was married to Betty Lee Dickson on August 28, 1954. They were married for 71 years, raising four children while living in Fort Worth, Austin, Minneapolis, and Corpus Christi.

Ray served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. He was a member of Parkway Presbyterian Church for 49 years. He served as an elder in the church and held various church offices. During retirement he and his wife, Betty, performed several volunteer services. For four summers they worked on the staff of Constructores para Cristo, a ministry for building homes for the impoverished in Piedras Negras, Mexico. They also spent five summers living among the homeless and serving them through Meeting Ground, a ministry serving the economically disadvantaged in Elkton, Maryland. Locally, Ray served meals at Loaves and Fishes for over twenty years. And he also volunteered with the Corpus Christi Literacy Council.

He is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Joyce Heath.

Survivors include his wife Betty, son Douglas (Traci), daughters Rebecca Cross, Mary Rachel Cox (Lance), Amy Van Zanten, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Parkway Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Loaves and Fishes or Coastal Bend Food Bank.