Janet Elizabeth (Obaugh) Cross |
| Posted 2016-06-06 by Pat R |
| The News Leader (Staunton, Virginia) Sunday, April 10, 2016 Janet Elizabeth Obaugh Cross, 79, passed away Monday, March 21, in Upland Hills, California, after a brief and unexpected illness. She was born February 23, 1937, in Richmond, VA, a daughter of the late Walter R. Obaugh and Mary A.(Stickley) Obaugh. She was a proud Virginian; her family has lived in the Shenandoah Valley since the early 1700s with earlier ancestors originally coming from Germany in the 1600s. She had ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, as well as the Civil War (First Brigade, Virginia Volunteers, and the "Stonewall Brigade"). Mrs. Cross had two older brothers, Monte and Caroll, who preceded her in death, and one younger sister, Theresa Obaugh Hayes, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She was the oldest niece of H. Paul Obaugh of Staunton. Growing up, the family lived in several places in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Japan, moving for their father's job with the Coca-Cola Company. In between moves and often during the summer they would stay on their grandparents' farm, Hilston, outside of Staunton near Frank's Mill. For her entire life she considered this her "home" and returned frequently for Obaugh and Stickley family reunions. Mrs. Cross attended high school in Wickenburg, AZ, returned to Staunton for one year at Woodrow Wilson High School, and then moved to Richmond. She earned her Associate's degree in business at the local campus of the College of William and Mary. Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she went to work for Household Finance, and where she met the love of her life, Richard F. Cross. Despite saying she would never marry a man who moved his family around like her dad, she married her husband in 1956, and they were soul mates for 56 years, until his passing in September 2014. Together they had four children: Patricia (Paul) Cross-Meadow; Susan (Ed) Hume; Jennifer (Steve) Doty; and Rich (Karen) Cross. Later, Dick's first daughter, Cathy (Bill) Marshall, was welcomed into the family. They lived in 11 different homes in 7 different states, always gathering new friends as they moved. In later years they traveled the world together. Their loving relationship set the example her children and 12 grandchildren have tried to follow. She was a devoted mother and wife to a husband whose job required them to move frequently throughout the U.S. before finally settling in California. Throughout her husband's long career with HFC, Mrs. Cross was his ardent supporter and number one fan. Through it all, she was positive, upbeat, and a great representative at every single company event, as well as a great mom running a household while her husband was often away traveling on business. She set a sterling example for her daughters--always elegant and put together and encouraging them to be strong, independent, and able to take care of themselves. She was an active participant in her children's schools and held every office in the PTA at several schools, as well as becoming a Life Member of the Kansas Congress of PTA's. She was a room mother many times, a Girl Scout leader, a volunteer English as a Second Language teacher, and School Attendance Review Board member. She was an avid golfer, achieving a "hole-in-one" in recent years. She held many offices and ran many events at the Glendora and Upland Hills Country Clubs in California. She was an Ambassador for the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce. She also excelled as a bridge player. Mrs. Cross was a member of the Claremont United Methodist Church, Claremont, CA. Throughout her life she was an active participant in the church, in MYF, and served as a Sunday School teacher and church secretary. But above all else, Mrs. Cross was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all who knew her. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?