July 15, 2010
Robert Graham Cross
Robert Graham Cross (Graham to those who knew him) unexpectedly died at his home in Longview, Washington on Monday evening, July 5, 2010.
The son of long-time Ritzville attorney Edward G. Cross and Lucinda Cross, he was born in Spokane April 6, 1941. He spent the first 18 years of his life in Ritzville. He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1959. He enjoyed attending his 50th high school class reunion last May.
Graham attended the University of Idaho between 1959 and 1965 and received his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1965. Graham’s summers during law school were spent on two U.S. Forest Service look-out towers in one of the most remote wilderness areas of Central Idaho.
After graduating from law school, Graham had the opportunity to work as a law clerk for the Hon. Richard B. Ott. At the time Judge Ott was Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court. After completing his judicial clerkship with Judge Ott in 1966, he joined the law firm of Klingberg, Houston, Reitsch, Cross & Frye in Longview, Washington. He and Reed Hadley subsequently formed the firm of Cross & Hadley, P.S. Like his father, Graham was still actively engaged in the full-time practice of law at the time of his death.
He practiced law for 44 years. He and Edward, the son and the father, practiced law for a combined 97 years. During these 97 years the father and son served their respective communities of Ritzville and Longview.
In 1974 he married Barbara, and the couple raised two daughters, Tara and Karla. Graham also had three daughters by a prior marriage: Michelle, Darcy and Heather.
In addition to his legal career, he was a Lieutenant JG in the Naval JAG Corp Reserves. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was active in the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. He was a member of the Longview Chamber of Commerce, the Longview Lions Club and the Sandbaggers. He was also active in Kelso Mason Lodge No. 90, Kelso Scottish Rite, and served on the Board of Directors of the Youth and Family Link.
Graham is survived by his wife of 36 years, Barbara Cross, of Longview; and four daughters, including Tara Cross and husband Arno Kotula of Denver, Colo.; Karla Cross of Bend, Ore.; Darcy Davis and husband Tim Davis of Longview; and Heather Cross-Schroeder of Seattle.
He is also survived by one brother, Shaun Cross of Spokane, and two sisters, Dinah Cross James of St. Helena, Calif. and Kathleen Fagan of North Bergen, NJ; and eight grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lucinda Cross, and his daughter, Michelle Cross Lorenz.
A celebration of Cross’ life will take place on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. at the Longview Community Church located at 2323 Washington Way, Longview, WA. A reception will follow the service at the Longview Country Club.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home in Longview. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Youth and Family Link (www.linkprogram.org).
