Robert Cross
April 22, 1931 - August 5, 2018 Saratoga
Bob Cross was born to Henry Albert Cross and Rilla Ceciles Cross (Faren) at 229 East St. John Street in San Jose. Bob grew up in San Jose and majored in economics at San Jose State. He then joined the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps as a special agent and served in San Francisco, Japan and Korea. He returned to Santa Clara University for a law degree, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1960. He joined IBM as legal counsel in 1961 and served in Boulder, Colorado, San Jose and Los Gatos until his retirement in 1990. He spent the next 20 years volunteering his legal expertise for parents of developmentally disabled children through CASH/PCR (California Association of Hospital Parent Councils for the Retarded).
Bob married Marilyn Bone in May of 1954 while he was in training at the army base at Fort Holibird, Maryland. Bob and Marilyn first met in the third grade at Horace Mann Elementary School, but they met again and began dating as students at San Jose State because their sisters were friends. Bob and Marilyn had three children and one grandson.
Bob was an avid follower of WWII history and was also an avid hiker, badminton and tennis player. He and Marilyn both shared a love of classical music as well as Broadway musicals. Bob learned to play the piano by ear using chords, and often relaxed at the piano late in the evening, playing his favorite songs. Bob and Marilyn were active downhill skiers for 40 years. They enjoyed many happy days at their vacation home adjacent to Calavaras Big Trees state park and at Bear Valley ski resort. They lived in Boulder, Colorado, in Saratoga for 31 years and in Los Gatos for 19 years. They also took many Elderhostel trips – from Midway Island to Oxford England, to the Italian lakes – and more.
Bob and Marilyn were married 64 years, and gave the great gift of a happy marriage to their sons, Tim and Terry. Their happiness lives on. Bob is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his son, Tim (Cheryl Powell), his son, Terry (Cindy) and his grandson, Coleman Robert (Cole) Cross.
When told that the end was near, Bob expressed his thanks for a long life, filled with love, family, friends and some extraordinary experiences. He enjoyed our visits, and reflecting on happy times and places. He said that his mind goes to these good places and memories when he was resting. His sense of humor remained intact, and he joked and smiled. He was grateful for the beauty and wonder of life, and all of the good things he has gotten to experience. He was even grateful to be able to decide on how he would spend his final days.
Dad’s equanimity in these circumstances was difficult to capture in words--stunning; luminous; awesome. Holy. He is such a fine man and wonderful father, at his greatest at the end, showing us the way. He had a long talk with his grandson about many things, from careers, to cars, to nature and the divine. In particular, Dad shared his belief in the importance of positive living and remaining attuned and open to divine inspiration. His words of thanks and love are a gift to us that we will treasure always and carry in our hearts. We will hold him in love to the end, and beyond.
There will be a memorial service for Robert Lawrence Cross on September 29, 2018 at 4 p.m. at St. James Anglican Church, 1565 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, California 95125.