Gene Ray Cross, 85 of St Clairsville, Ohio, formerly of Bellaire, died peacefully after receiving excellent end of life care at Forest Hills Care Center on January 17, 2019, surrounded by his family. He was born July 13, 1933, in Bellaire, Ohio, son of Raymond R. Cross and Mary Kosch Cross.

Besides Gene's parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Cross. Surviving are his loving and devoted wife, Alberta L. Brown Cross, as well as his children, daughter Roberta Cross (Joe) Witsberger, of St Clairsville, and his son, Kirk (Lisa) Cross, of Tiltonsville. A sister, Mary Ann Cross (Chuck) Loucks, Cedaredge, CO, Grandchildren Rachel Witsberger (Tony) Long, Lubbock, TX, Lisa Witsberger (Justin) Wigley, Hawthorne, NJ, Laura Witsberger (Jason) Richmond, St Clairsville, Brittany Orizczak (David) Marconi, St Clairsville, and Joseph Orizczak, Chicago, IL. Great grandchildren, Braylon, Hudson, and Mallory Marconi. Also special to Gene were his nieces, Tammy Stroup, Lorrie Bagley, and nephew Jamie Stroup.

Gene was a retired High School math teacher and coach. He started his career in education at Columbus Starling Jr High, then taught and/or coached at various schools for parts of four decades, including his alma mater, Bellaire, as well as Brilliant, Union Local, Akron, and Miami Beach Senior HS. During the '61-62 season, he served as head coach of the UL Jets cage squad. He finished his teaching career with stints at St Clairsville HS, Bellaire St John, and Frontier Local, before leaving the profession to engage in other pursuits.

A 1951 graduate of Bellaire High School, Gene was a 3 year letterman in both football and basketball. As a senior, his 1950 Big Reds were undefeated OVAC Champs, and he also led the '50-'51 basketball squad in scoring as well, earning him All Eastern Ohio honors.

Not long after graduating high school, he was signed to a professional baseball contract with the St Louis Cardinals Class D minor league Johnson City Baseball Association. After a brief stint there, he returned home and enrolled at West Liberty State College, where he was the starting running back on the football team for four seasons, and also played on their cage squad for two seasons. It was also at West Liberty where he met the love of his life, his sweetheart, Alberta Brown Cross, formerly of St Marys, WV, whom he remained happily married to for 63 years.

Gene also played several seasons of local sandlot baseball with the Bellaire Civics, Shadyside Civics, and Neffs Miners. For all of his athletic achievements, Gene was honored to receive a spot on the Bellaire HS Wall of Fame in 1988.

Gene also enjoyed reading books, especially the Bible, watching college football games, and spending time with his family.

He was a deeply spiritual person who was always searching. He satisfied that search by studying the Bible and becoming one of Jehovah's witnesses.  He was currently associated with the St. Clairsville congregation.

Friends will be received at Toothman Funeral Home in St Clairsville. Visiting hours will be Saturday from noon until time of service at 5:00 p.m. with Jason R. Richmond officiating the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to Ohio Cancer Research Associates.