Wanda Naomi Cross' Obituary
Wanda Naomi Cross, age 89, of Sun City West, AZ and formerly of Casey, IL passed away at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at her daughter 's Arizona home. She was born June 13, 1933 in Greenup, IL, the daughter of Willard Washburn and Opal Matilda Slater Washburn. On April 21, 1951 she married Jack Edwin Cross in Casey, IL; he passed away on November 21, 2019.
Survivors include her daughters, Joy Wright (James) of Kansas, IL and Penny Cross Nelson (Jeff) of Sun City West, AZ; nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother, Kenneth Washburn.
Wanda was a graduate of Martinsville High School. She had many vocations during her lifetime, she worked at Casey G&G as a teen, became a telephone operator at the Casey switchboard where she advanced to chief operator, worked for JC Penny in Champaign sewing custom drapes, and then as a clerk in accounts payable for Kraft Foods in Champaign, IL. Wanda volunteered as a 4-H leader for many years. She loved nature, bird watching, enjoyed musicals and laughing with her husband of 68 years. After retirement Jack and Wanda designed and built their dream home in the woods near Marshall, IL where Wanda continued to cook and bake for her family and many friends. While living in Marshall they were members of Marshall First United Methodist Church. Their last years were enjoyed in Sun City, AZ where they attended church together weekly at Lakeview United Methodist Church and took many nature walks.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 at Markwell Funeral Home with Pastor Ross Parrott officiating. Burial will follow in the Green Moss Cemetery, rural Clark County, IL. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Friday morning prior to the service at Markwell Funeral Home, 200 N. Central Ave., Casey, IL.
The family request that donations be made to Valley View Community Food Bank, 10771 W. Peoria Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351.
To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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