Barbara Cross

Barbara Cross of Manchester, Vermont passed away peacefully on August 22, 2017 with her family by her side. She was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1931 to Chester Delevan Mills and Ruth Thurston (Miller) Mills. Barbara attended Metuchen schools and graduated from Middlebury College in 1953. After living and working in New Jersey, then moving to Germany where her then husband, Neil Cross, was stationed, they returned to Vermont, eventually settling in Manchester in 1963. She worked for many years at Brewster's and the Gourmet Shoppe, where she was manager, and then as a town employee, eventually becoming Manchester's elected Town Clerk for more than 17 years. Barbara participated in many community activities including service on the vestry and Christmas pageant organization at Zion, as a nursery school aide, a Cub Scout volunteer, a board member for Health Services and Meals on Wheels and a longtime member of the Monday Club. Barbara was an avid bridge player and a voracious reader. Despite her debilitating stroke in 2000, she continued to live at home for many years with perseverance and grace. Since then Barbara resided at Mountain View Center where she continued her bridge and reading and enjoyed talking with her aides and nurses. Barbara's favorite times, though, were spent with family. Barbara is predeceased by her parents and her son, Michael. She is survived by her two daughters, Jennifer (Cross) Jacob and her husband Lawrence, and their two sons William and Jonathan, all of West Pawlet, Vermont; and Andrea Cross and her husband Thomas Ings, of Windham, Maine. A service will be held at Zion Episcopal Church in Manchester Center on August 30, 2017 at 11:30 am with a reception to follow. A private burial will be made in Norwich, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Manchester Rescue Squad or Manchester Health Services. A service will be held at Zion Episcopal Church in Manchester Center on August 30, 2017 at 11:30 am with a reception to follow. A private burial will be made in Norwich, Vermont