Barbara Jane Cross Arwood

Barbara Jane Cross Smith Arwood was born October 19, 1918 in Rusk, Texas, to Grace Guinn Cross and Robert Eggleston Cross, Sr. Her grandparents were Joseph Eggleston Johnston Cross and Mollie Matilda Lowry Cross of Troup, Texas, and Judge John Bunyan Guinn and Lillie Louise Westbrook Guinn of Jacksonville, Texas.

Barbara lived in Dallas as a child where her father worked for the Federal Reserve Bank and later in central Texas in the town of Lott where her father was a bank officer. She, both of her brothers, and her parents performed with the community band in Waco. Her parents moved back to Troup, enrolling Barbara in the demonstration junior high and high school at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches where she performed as principal clarinet in the college band. When her aunt Savannah Cross (Lockey Carnes) was admitted to the doctoral program at Columbia University in New York City, Savannah convinced her brother and sister-in-law to allow her to take niece Barbara to New York to audition at the famed Julliard School of Music. Barbara was admitted at age 15 and studied voice, piano, single and double reed woodwinds, composition, music theory, counterpoint and orchestral conducting. Later she attended Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, where she also studied music. In her first year at Julliard, Barbara won the conservatory-wide composition competition as a 15 year old.

Following her marriage to Aaron Smith and the birth of her two children, Robert Aaron Smith and Barbara Carol Smith, Barbara completed two degrees in English grammar and literature (with a special emphasis in Mythology) at Stephen F. Austin State University. She began her teaching career at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, before accepting a teaching position in Troup, Texas. When her husband purchased Manley Gas Company in Greenville, Texas, she began teaching in the Greenville public schools. Her teaching career made a full circle when she returned to Troup to teach and to care for her aging parents. Following the sudden death of Aaron in 1978, she married her trusted friend and CPA Frazier Arwood in 1980. In 1993, Barbara and Frazier retired and made plans to move to Nacogdoches to be near Robert and Vida and their families. Frazier died as the move was being completed.

Barbara was a member of First United Methodist Church, the FUMC Sanctuary Choir, and the FUMC Women’s Circle of Nacogdoches, Cum Concilio Club and the Newcomer’s Club.

She is preceded in death by her parents Grace Guinn Cross and Robert Eggleston (Bob) Cross, Sr.; her husband of 42 years Aaron Eugene Smith; her husband of 13 years Charles Frazier Arwood; and daughter-in-law Susan Sharp Smith.

Barbara is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert Aaron and Vida Vacula Smith (Nacogdoches); her daughter, Dr. Barbara Carol Smith (Huntsville); her grandchildren Shannon Lee and Marcie Anderson Smith and children Benjamin and Andrew (Nacogdoches); Slaton Sharp and Robin Pantalion Smith and children Gunnar, Jake Pantalion and Robert Aaron Augustus (Gus) Smith (Nacogdoches); Steve and Cassey Vacula Scales and children Elliot and Madelynne Scales (Richardson); Paul and Susan Magers Vacula and children Simon and Spencer Vacula (Austin); and Kurt and Tanya McDaniels Vacula and children Nicholas, Erin and Ethan Vacula (Austin). She is also survived by brother and sister-in-law Joseph Bunyan Cross and Patty Sue Davidson Cross, daughter Joan Elizabeth Cross and Jim McCord, nephews Christopher Dallal, and David and Sharon Dallal and DJ, all of San Antonio. Additionally, she is survived by younger brother Robert E. Cross, Jr. and son Donald Ernest Cross and Elizabeth Jefferson Cross and children Ken and Ashley Cross Blanc, Christopher and Anne-marie Blanc, all of Lafayette, Louisiana, and David and Melissa Cross Gallo of Atlanta, Georgia. Special cousins Mary Anne Coney of Troup and John M. Ashby of Tyler were favorites of Barbara.

The family wishes to express our deepest love and gratitude to the sitters who became family to Barbara (and all of us) and gave her the highest level of personal care and affection. The beloved sitters are: Katherine Richardson, Kisha Morris, Lisa Miller, Rae Ann Pettigrew, Helen Royal, and Janis Byrd. Katherine’s guidance and management of our team was truly remarkable.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be given to the In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be given to the Aaron E. and Barbara Cross Smith (Arwood) Music Scholarship @ the School of Music, P.O. Box 13043, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3043. Telephone: 936-468-1170.

Visitation has been scheduled for Friday, March 26, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, located at 5400 North Street, Nacogdoches, Texas.

The memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 East Hospital Street, Nacogdoches, Texas. Burial will be in the Joseph E.J. Cross family plot of Bradford Cemetery, Troup, Texas.

Online guestbook posted at www.casonmonk-metcalf.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors of Nacogdoches, Texas.