He was born on April 17, 1924 in Sherman County, Oregon to Truman Adelbert Cross and Winifred Muriel Thrasher Cross. He was raised south of Rufus, and attended local schools there until the family moved to Eastern Oregon in 1937. He attended Pendleton Jr. High and High School, graduating in 1942. Truman also attended University of Oregon for two years, but was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army, and was in the European Theatre, England, Belgium, France and was in the Battle of the Bulge.
After the war, he came home to help on the family ranch southwest of Pendleton in Coombs Canyon. He married Velma Mae Hascall on Feb. 22, 1947 and began raising a family. They purchased their ranch on Rocky Ridge Southeast of Pilot Rock where he raised wheat and cattle. He was an active member of the Soil Conservation Service and often hosted meetings at the ranch.
Truman was a small plane pilot and loved flying whenever he could during the late 1960s until 1980s. He also leased the Midstate Ranch in Fossil, where he ran a large cattle and horse operation in addition to the Pilot Rock ranch. Truman was an avid horseman, and maintained a large string of working horses for use on both ranches. During his “retirement” years he raised Barzona cattle and spent time developing and growing grass seed.
He is survived by sisters, Loeta Mikel of Pilot Rock, and Carol Cross of Hermiston; stepsister, Patti Michael of Pilot Rock; six children, Jody Cross of Lexington, Kent., David Cross & Charles Cross both of Pendleton, Karen Fulbright of Pilot Rock, Troy Cross of Walla Walla, Wash., and Travis Cross of Hermiston; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside service with military honors will be on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the Pilot Rock Cemetery in Pilot Rock.
Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
