Dr. James Cross
May 1, 1933 — June 5, 2017
Dr. Cross died Monday, June 5, 2017. He was born in Jacksonville, IL, the son of the late James Martin Cross and Elizabeth Palmer Cross. He graduated Lehigh University, Phi Beta Kappa, and Washington University Medical School. He did a residency in Dermatology at University of Oregon. He served as a Medical Officer, Lt. Commander, in the United States Public Health Service, Division of Foreign Quarantine. He was a Family Practitioner for thirty years, mostly in rural, underserved areas of California and Virginia. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of California, Davis, and a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Community Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Cross was an accomplished pianist and composer. His compositions include opera, ballet, musical theater, chamber music, piano, sacred music and vocal solos, many of which have been performed in California, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
His one-act opera, Knossos, was a finalist in the New York City Opera Competition in 1980; the same year, he was recognized in Who’s Who in Virginia Medicine, Virginia Medical Association.
His community service included serving on the Board of Directors of Dickenson Wise Medical Group, Southwest Virginia Community Services, Friends of Music East Tennessee State University, Theater Bristol, and San Diego Ballet Company.
Dr. Cross was a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he and his wife hosted a Redeemer Fellowship group for seven years.
Dr. Cross is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Bayley Cross; children, Ari Cross Dickinson (Bo) of Bishopville, SC, James Dunbar Cross (Kara) of NYC, NY and Rebecca Cross DelMonte (Michael) of Garrison, NY; grandchildren, Katherine Dickinson, James, Peter, and John Cross, Emerson and Maxwell DelMonte; brother, William Cross (Valerie) of Springboro, OH and David Cross (Mary Gail) of FL; and his sister, Carol Conrad (William) of McLean, VA.
Dr. Cross was predeceased by his sister, Sally Whitaker, and his beloved stepmother, Jean Cross.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association-Mid-State-SC, 140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 210, Columbia, SC 29210 or Bethesda Presbyterian Church Music Program, 502 DeKalb Street, Camden, SC 29020.
A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday June 17, 2017 at 10:30am at Cold Spring Cemetery, Cold Spring, New York, under the direction of Clinton Funeral Home.