August 23, 1927 – March 2, 2023
Source Girdner Funeral Chapel
It is with great sadness that the family of Philip Ward Cross, of Yreka announce his passing on March 2nd, 2023 at the age of 95 years young. Phil as his friends knew him, passed at his home surrounded by family.
Phil was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather and uncle. He was preceded in death by: his loving wife Mary of 64 years, his sister June and great-grandson John. He will be lovingly remembered by his children: daughters Gail (George) and Bonnie (Tim); sons Raymond (Jan) and Albert (Bev); grandchildren: Tim Jr., James, Wesley, Shari, Colleen and AJ; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, as well as his large spiritual family at the Yreka Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Phil was born August 23rd, 1927 in Bangor, Maine to Raymond E. Cross and Clara L. Ward and grew up in Searsport, Maine. His first job, in his teens, was as a telephone message delivery boy. As Phil told it, “Nobody had a telephone in those days, so I would stand outside the telephone exchange office and run messages to the neighbors in town when they received a phone call. I earned a nickel for each message that I delivered, so I always had a little change in my pocket.” When Phil was 18 and newly wed, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and again during the Korean War. Afterward he moved his family to Glenburn, Maine, completed his education and received certification from the FCC to become a television engineer for WABI-TV out of Bangor, Maine, where he worked until he retired.
In 1962 Phil was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses where he dedicated the majority of his life. Later in life he moved to New Hampshire and then Arizona, to live with his daughter, Bonnie. While there, he served as Vice-President of Cross Propane LP Gas Co. of Colorado for 15 years, alongside his son Ray. In 2009 Phil moved to California to be near his son, Albert.
Besides spending time with his family and friends, Phil had a passion for Bible education and ministry work. He enjoyed woodworking, road trips and staying busy. He did not like to sit idle! Phil was very generous and had a caring and charismatic personality. He was well know for his comical ways and sense of humor. Phil was a dapper gentleman known by locals as the “older man with the Fedora and Suit.” Phil now rests in Jehovah’s memory.
