Leland Russell Cross, of Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, died on October 6, 2010 with loving family by his side.
He was born on September 15, 1922 in Peoria, the son of James Harvey and Frieda Marie (Sipp) Cross. He graduated from Washington High School and attended the University of Illinois where he studied engineering and played trumpet in the Marching Illini. In 1941 Lee enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet, subsequently transferring to the 652nd Army Air Corp Band. Following his discharge from the service, Lee started working at Caterpillar Tractor Company. What began as a temporary job turned into a 36 year career with the manufacturer.
In 1944 Lee married Ruth Attig. They became acquainted when Lee was working in the grocery store owned by Ruth’s uncle. On their first date they attended the fireworks in Eureka. Lee and Ruth were married 61 years when she passed away in 2005.
Lee is survived by two children, James Cross and his wife Maggie, of Naperville, IL, and Jean Cross Robins and her husband David, of Peterborough, NH. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Thomas Cross, of Iowa City, Iowa, Rebecca Cross, of Oswego, IL, Madeleine Robins, of Duluth, MN, and Eric Robins, of Daegu, S. Korea. In addition, Lee is survived by his brother, Hulin J. Cross, his brother-and-sister-in-law, Vernon and Dorothy Attig and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Allen Lee and an infant grandson, Matthew.
Lee had a lifelong love of music, especially marching band music, light operetta, and ragtime piano. He was an avid trapshooter and a longtime member of Peoria Skeet and Trap. He also enjoyed sports cars, bird watching, and tending the oak trees that grew on the Carlock property where he and Ruth lived for almost 30 years.
There will be a memorial service for Leland Cross in the Waters of Life Chapel of Lutheran Hillside Village, Peoria, on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m. Rev. David Robins will officiate.
The arrangements are in the care of Mason-White Funeral Home, Washington. If you would like to make a memorial donation, the family suggests they be made to the Carlock Public Library, Carlock, IL or Lutheran Hillside Village Foundation, Peoria.