Loyal D. Cross

Loyal Deloy Cross was born on February 22, 1926 in Perry, Oklahoma to Roy Harrison and Alma Branham Cross. He was 9th out of 10 children and was the last remaining of this family. His early childhood was spent in various towns in Oklahoma as his father worked in the oil drilling field. His mother died when he was 7 years old and he was then raised by an older sister. In his teens the family moved to Kentucky and operated a truck farm raising strawberries and tobacco. When he was 14, Loyal moved back to Oklahoma to live with his sister Evelyn and her husband Dan Huddleston, who was an elder at Putnam City Church of Christ. It was there where he met Mary McCarty. They dated through their high school years. As WWII was raging, Loyal was approaching 18 and would soon be drafted. Mary and Loyal decided to get married before he had to leave for the war. They were married October 26, 1943. When Loyal turned 18, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served until the war ended. While in the Navy, he was assigned to a dental clinic as a Pharmacist Mate as a dental assistant. After his discharge he was offered a government sponsored on-the-job training program at Hettingers Dental Lab in Oklahoma City. After working for that company a few years, he decided to open his own lab and was owner/operator of the Bethany Dental Lab for over 30 years until his retirement. Loyal had a great love for the Church and served many years as a classroom teacher, Deacon, and then an Elder. His love was for working with congregations just getting established, who couldn't support a preacher. Loyal left this life Sunday, September 15, 2019. He is survived by his wife Mary. They would have celebrated 76 years of marriage next month. He is also survived by two sons, Douglas Roy Cross, Sr. and wife Amy of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Daniel Lee Cross, Sr. and wife Judy of Warr Acres, OK; seven grandchildren: Tammy, Teri, Annalee and husband Jim, Doug Jr., Danny, Jr. and wife JoAnna, Eddie and wife Janelle and Stephanie. Twenty Great Grandchildren and Ten Great Great Grandchildren......at last count.