Dr. Ralph Donald Cross

[Clark Funeral Home]

Dr. Ralph Donald Cross of Villa Rica, Georgia passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. He was born on December 31, 1931 in Quincy, Illinois and was 78 years old. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean

War. Ralph retired from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1993, where he taught Geography and Area Development. He was a member of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. As a writer, Dr. Cross has eight published books and was a member of Western Writers of America, Inc. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Villa Rica. Ralph was preceded in death by his sister, Doris Cross Mays. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Madolyn Estrich Cross; his four children, Angela Cross Pickett (Mike), Pamela Cross Love, Jeffrey Donald Cross (Pam), and Janet Cross Rush (Craig); one sister, Audrey Cross Bruner (Jim) and a brother-in-law, Herbert Estrich. He had six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Satchel.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 15, 2010, at 5:00 PM, from Clark Funeral Home, with Reverend James Smith officiating. Interment will be in Edon Cemetery, Edon, Ohio. The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home on Friday, January 15, 2010, from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to (www.jdrfgeorgia.org) or mailed to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3525 Piedmont Road N, Building 6, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Clark Funeral Home, Hiram, GA, is in charge of arrangements.

(www.samclarkfuneralhome.com)