Elizabeth "Betty" Cross

Betty was born in 1926 in New York City, followed by sister Dorothy in 1928, and attended school in Mt. Vernon, NY. Family vacations were enjoyed in upstate New York, coastal New England and Martha’s Vineyard. Following her father’s death in 1938, her mother moved the family to Chicago where extended family resided. Betty and Dorothy graduated Francis W. Parker High School, Chicago, and Carleton College, Northfield, MN.

Betty met her future husband, Robert J. Cross (“Bob”), on his return from WWII Naval service to complete his Carleton degree. They graduated in 1947 and married in 1948, moving to Boulder, CO where Bob began graduate school on the GI Bill. Betty was awarded the graduate degree of PhT (Putting Husband Through) while enjoying work in the Univ. of Colorado President’s office. The University of Washington became a base for Bob’s graduate studies and Betty’s work as a Sr. Secretary in the Division of Counseling and Testing Services, and a stint in the Metropolitan Tract Office in downtown Seattle. Bob's work took the couple from Seattle to Tacoma, Corvallis, Falls Church, VA, and back to Seattle, where their children were born. Betty worked in various university departments and as business manager for Co-Resident Women in Corvallis.

Their son, Thomas (“Tom”), and daughter, Thale, were born in Seattle while Bob worked at Boeing and then Seattle University libraries. Camping and hiking in the Cascades were favorite summer activities. Long visits to the summer home of Betty’s mother at The Prairie Club on Lake Michigan were greatly enjoyed. Betty’s family moved to Bellingham in 1969 for Bob’s Associate Director position at Wilson Library, WWU. Their children both graduated Sehome High School. Betty worked as an elementary school secretary at Carl Cozier and Sunnyland for 18 years, retiring in 1986. Betty shared a passion for horses with her daughter and, after Thale went to college in 1980, Betty took up serious riding herself, enjoying dressage until 1991. Betty was Treasurer and Acting President of Women of Western, later secretary of WWU Retirement Assn., and a member of the Aftermath Club and Whatcom Museum Advocates. She enjoyed reading, needlework, gardening and cooking as well as joining Bob on walks with their always present and greatly loved dogs. In retirement, she and Bob traveled extensively, including car trips throughout the US, always visiting with family along the way. They also cruised until their late 80’s, finally deciding “home’s best”.

Betty passed away on June 29, 2023 at age 96. She is survived by her children, Thomas and Thale (husband Eric Jarvis); grandchildren, Austin and William Cross, and Alison and Samuel Jarvis; nieces Linda Fisher, Mary Baumann and Jean Cross; and nephew Robert Cross. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob, her sister Dorothy, and parents, Charles and Dorothy Thale.

Services will be held Monday, August 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Westford Funeral Home in Bellingham.