Wilma Zee Cross
February 23, 1936 ~ May 27, 2012
Wilma Zee Cross, 76, of Weirton died Sunday May 27, 2012, at the Weirton Medical Center.
Born on February 23, 1936 in Roxanna TX, Wilma was the third of six children to the late Nancy Evelyn Mae and Stewart Lewis Bonner. She was also preceded in death by her son in law, David White; two brothers, Stewart and Clyde Bonner, and a sister, Earlene Strowmatt, and lifelong friend Helen Carpini.
Mrs. Cross achieved a great deal of professional success in her life. She earned her high school diploma at Weir High. As a young mother, she sold jewelry with Sarah Coventry, and then began working with Weight Limited as an instructor before joining up with Equitable Insurance. These jobs made her a feature in Weirton's social scene. For a decade, starting in the early 1980's, Mrs. Cross worked for Mellon Bank. Upon retirement, she consulted with the bank and enjoyed traveling around the country with her husband Carl Eugene Cross.
She has been a long time member of Paris Presbyterian Church where she was married to Carl on November 13, 1954. More recently, she assisted Reverend Dr. Tina Hosler on her book "Guide to the Bible."
Wilma was instrumental in the foundation of the Hancock County Workshop.
For relaxation, she enjoyed planting flowers around her home, with her husband Carl. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and was known for her legendary chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.
Wilma and Carl spent the winter months in Fort Myers Florida at the Serendipity Retirement Community, where she was the editor of the monthly newspaper
She is survived by her husband, Carl Eugene Cross; her three sons, Jeffery C. Cross (Cynthia) of Columbus, OH, Charles A. Cross (Jeanne) of Lafayette LA, and Michael Cross of Weirton, WV; her daughter, Carlene White of Columbus, OH; two sisters, Carol Albert of Murrysville, PA and Phyllis Rudy of Slippery Rock, PA; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Cross Morrow, Christopher White, Shannon, Katharine, Carl, Benjamin, and Alina Cross,; two great grandchildren, Phoenix Hope and Jaylen Dedrick White.
The last years of her life were spent in Weirton with family and friends.
Visitation will be 2-4 & 6-8 PM Wednesday, at the Greco- Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street Weirton, WV. Additional visitation will be held 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM Thursday, at the Paris Presbyterian Church 127 Steubenville Pike, Paris, PA. Rev. Dr. Christina Hosler will preside.
Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Weirton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Weirton Salvation Army 800 Cove Road Weirton, WV 26062.
Share tributes at www.grecohertnick.com
My love and Prayers are with the family during this time, Wilma was such a loving and kind person and one whom will never be forgotten. I will always remember the great times we had at Serendipity, she was my “rock” when mom died as her gentle words soothed my aching heart. Now she is with mom and we all have another guardian angel to watch over us. Love you cuz, rest peacefully in God’s arms
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. My God bless you and your family and give you peace that God has all of this under His control. Deepest Sympathies, Phil and Kay Duke
Carlene, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.
So so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. Thoughts, prayers and love are with you, Christopher and the rest of your family during this difficult time. Our Deepest Sympathies!
Sorry for your great loss. Wilma was always so patient with Elizabeth and I at the kitchen table when we used to play War, the card game, as kids. She always had the best snacks at her house, too! Thoughts & prayers are with your family.
To the Cross Family, I send my deepest sympathy to you for the loss of Wilma. I was a classmate of Charles and Michaels, Weir High Class of 1976. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Please accept my deepest Condolences for your Loss. I also attended Weir High Class of 1976 with Charles. May you have the strength and guidance of God to make it thru these difficult times.
YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY. I will always remember (AUNT) WILMA. I was lucky to have meant her and share so fun times with her at alot of parties with my friend TERRY REID. She was a true LADY!!!xoxo
Carlene, You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Your mom was a sweetheart, we have never forgotten her. If there is anything we can do, please just let us know. You can reach us at 740-381-3883.
She will be greatly missed as she was one of the best people I have ever had the privelage to know. Family was always first with her. I love you Wilma and I am really going to miss you. God Bless You and your Family.
Wilma Cross is dear to all her extended family in Lafayette, La. She was inviting and gracious to all of us and we loved her as we do Carl. Wilma was larger than life; it’s hard for me to imagine the world without her. I want to express my condolences to all the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Wilma was at times like a mom to me and there are very few that meet someone and care as if they were her own that is who wilma was to me. I know she has recieved gods love for sure.
Wilma was a great baker!!! I had the great pleasure to have eaten her chocolate cake with peanut butter icing!!!! Our deepest sympathy to your family.I am sure you will have good memories to cherish. Bobbie & Ronnie Dulaney
Our deepesr sympathy to Mike and your family. Memory Eternal.
My deepest sympathies and condolences to Carlene and your father and brothers. Larry Morrow
Mike and Family: My condolences on the loss of your mom. My heart goes out to your and your family during this most difficult time. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Carl and family. A huge portion of my life included Wilma. What started as a partnership and friendship with my mom turned into so much more. There was a time when you couldn’t see the two of the together. When Helen passed away Wilma was still the friend she always was. They can renew that connection again. There is very little that can ease the hurt you feel, but know that she blessed the lives of the people she knew and even those she simple touched. Rest in the peace of the Lord, Wilma.
Dear Cross/Bonner family, Please accept my condolences & those I give on behalf of my husband & children, and my sister Diane. As Wilma’s neice I was privileged to be loved on as if I was part of her family. I imagine that if I got together with her other neices, we’d all boast “I was her favorite neice!” Although Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states that there is a season & time for everything, the time of death for a loved one never seems like it’s right. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 explains that the mortal, & perishable body cannot inherit the Kingdom of God…; thus Wilma is now clothed with her immortable and imperishable body enabling her to live eternally in the presence of God. I can’t wait to see her there & get another big hug:) Love & prayers for all,
TO THE CROSS FAMILY: I’M VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OF YOUR MOM AND WIFE WILMA. I REMEMBER ALL THE TIME HER AND MY MOM WOULD SPEND TOGETHER AND THE GOOD AND SOME SAD TIMES THEY HAD TOGETHER. I KNOW HOW HARD IT’S TO LOSE THE ONES YOU LOVE SO MUCH. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR MOM’S SMILE AND HOW KIND SHE WAS .. JOEY CARPINI
My prayers are with the cross family. Ive grown to love carlene and christopher. I will do my best to support them in there loss. Love Melissa Riddle
To Mike, Ben, and family: My sincere condolences are with you during this difficult time. May god lift your hearts and bring remembrance to all the happy memories you had together. God Bless, Paul Starcher
So Sorry for your loss,even though,Wilma was not a blood Relative,in my heart I always considered her an Aunt…She will deeply be missed..Godbless,and my condulances…Louis Spano
Dear Cross family, Times like this are never easy for any of us. Your loss is great-but you also have the assurance of seeing her again.She walks where one day you will too by faith. Thoughts and prayers are with you. Mary Kay
Mike, you have my deepest condolence. May the Lord comfort you and your family in the time of loss. You and your family are in my prayers. Corliss
Dear Mike and Cross Family, I was sorry to hear about your mother, I know that she means the world to you. I’m so very glad to know that you and your family have one another in this difficult time. Please accept my condelences,
Dear Mike, I wanted to take a moment to tell you how very sorry I am to hear about the loss of your Mother. I’m sure you have many memories, and I hope that they will comfort you. I’ll be thinking of you and praying for you.
Dear Cross Family, You don’t know me but I knew your mother. I used to car pool with her to Pittsburgh when she worked at Equitable and I worked at Aetna. She was a wonderful woman and always talked proudly of her family. Carlene I think you were pregnant at the time. She was such a knowledgeable woman about life. We had many talks. I am so sorry to see that she passed and I’m sorry I lost touch with her. Heaven is lucky to have her.
To the Cross family: It is with much sadness that I just learned of the passing of Mrs. Cross. Both Carl and Wilma were very good friends of my parents, so some of my earliest and fondest memories are of my family with the Cross family, and I had the very good fortune to grow up with and call Mike my friend for many, many years. Please accept my sincerest condolences, expressed on behalf of my entire family, on the passing of your wife, mother, and friend. Our thoughts, prayers, and love are with you at this difficult time.
Carl and family, First may I extend my deepest sympathies to all of you. Wilma was a very precious lady and I learned a lot from her. She was the kindest person I have ever met. I want to tell all of you that the things you said and shared with us at her memorial service were so precious and showed how very much all of you loved her and looked up to her. She lives on in your hearts and memories forever. May the tears of grieving soon turn into tears of joy at the precious memories you will have within your heart and minds. Thank you for sharing this wonderful woman with us. Blessings and may God grant all of you the peace that surpasses all understanding. Margie Zellars Pastoral Assistant Paris Presbyterian Church
Uncle Carl, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dear Carl you and the family are in my thoughts and prayers. Your faith in God will get you through this time. Remember all the good times and thank God for the many years you and Wilma had as man and wife. God Bless you and the family In Christian Love Lorraine
Uncle Carl, My thoughts and prayers are with you and family in this difficult time. May God help you in your time of grief.
I worked with Wilma at Mellon Bank in Philadelphia in 1987 and remember her fondly as a fun and caring co-worker.