Ernest 'Bud' Cross, 71

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. - Ernest "Bud" Cross, age 71, of Blountville, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 17, 2009. He was born Aug. 11, 1937, and was a son of the late Earnest and Maude Bowers Cross. Preceded in death by one brother, Charles Lee Cross and one nephew, Charles "Matt" Reeves. Ernest served in the United States Army. He and his family moved to Delaware in 1966 where he worked for 39 years and 10 months for the United States Department of Agriculture as a meat inspector. He received a certificate of commendation each year he worked for the department. After retiring, he moved back to the Blountville area and has resided there the past 5 years. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Thelma Jean Whitaker Cross; daughter, Kim Cross, of the home; son, Glenn Cross and fiancée Kylie Austin of Lincoln, Del.; grandson, Christopher Nelson, of the home; two brothers, Robert "Bobby" Cross and wife Ann, and Terry "Mike" Cross and wife Nancy; four sisters, June Humphrey, Shirley Campbell and husband Johnny, Kathrine Miller, and Lillian Reeves and husband Reverend Bill Reeves; also many nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews, many dear and beloved cousins, his truly treasured and close friends, V. Wayne Wooten, Terry Holden and Lillian Wilson. Bud never met a stranger and he loved all his family and friends very much. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, at the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Reeves officiating. Interment will follow at the Moores Cemetery near Benhams, Va. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Weaver Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Gary Humphrey, Glenn Cross, Chris Nelson, Lloyd Armour, Jr., Tony Campbell and Jim Titus. Honorary Pallbearers will be all his nephews and great nephews. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family would like to thank Kathy Sharp and the staff at Blue Ridge Medical Specialists, the staff at Speciality Select Hospital and especially the staff of Wellmont Hospice for all the good care he was given at home and the love and support they showed him and his family and all their neighbors for their kindness. They would also like to thank the staff at Weaver Funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steeles Road, Bristol, TN 37620.