William Porter ‘Bill’ Cross

He was born on March 31, 1946, in Belington, West Virginia, a son of the late Porter Lovett and Nancy Ellen Harvey Cross.

On June 19, 1981, in Belington at the Westside United Methodist Church, he was united in marriage to the former Sharon Lynn Kittle, who preceded him in death on Nov. 23, 2021.

Mr. Cross is survived by a son, William Aaron Cross, and wife, Holly, of Alexandria, Virginia; two grandsons, William and George Cross; two sisters, Hallie Shahan of Texas and Wilma Shue of Elkins; one brother, Junior Cross, and wife, Phyllis, of Belington; several nieces and nephews, cousins and a whole host of extended family.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Jennie Cline, Shirley Kelley, Edna Cross, Dorothy Tenney and Sarah Tenney; one brother, George Melvin Cross; and a niece, Tammy Smith.

Bill attended the schools of Barbour County and was a Christian by faith. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for 22 years, enlisting in 1964 and retiring in 1986 as a Master Sergeant. He served as an aviation flight operations NCO for the majority of his career. His service included four one-year tours of Vietnam, as well as assignments in Germany, Korea, Fort Monroe, Virginia, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama and Fort Rucker, Alabama. His final assignment was Range Branch NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) at Fort Rucker, where he played a key role in building the Army’s first Apache helicopter gunnery range. Among his military awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), Vietnam Campaign Medal with two silver stars and one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Once returning from the US Army to West Virginia, he became employed by the Bel-Bar Dry Kiln Inc in Belington, and then for the Riedboard Brothers Sewing factory and then finally for the High-Tec Dry Kiln in Belington. Bill was a lifetime member of the Laurel Mountain Post 410 VFW, where he was a past commander. He previously served as a Belington City Councilman and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Friends will be received at the Talbott Funeral Home, 56 Brandenburg St. in Belington, West Virginia, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the funeral hour, when a funeral service will be conducted from the funeral home Chapel with Rev. Jimmie E. Tallman officiating.

Interment will follow in the Fraternal Cemetery near Belington, where full military rites will be conducted by the United States Army.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to The D.A.V. 860 Dolwick Dr, Erlanger, KY 41018.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.

The Talbott Funeral Home in Belington is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. William Porter “Bill” Cross.