Stanley (Beaver) Frank Cross

Stanley (Beaver) Frank Cross, 83 a lifetime resident of Wilmington passed away unexpectedly at the home he was raised in in Wilmington on Wednesday September 11, 2024.   He was born in Bennington Vt. on November 21, 1940, the son of Alton and Bernice (Stetson) Cross. He grew up on the family farm raising chickens, cows, and horses.  He helped his dad sugar in the old sugar house on the south end of the farm. He often was given the job of stacking wood for the cook stove.  No matter how good a job he thought he did, his grandfather would always knock the piles down and make him re-stack them.  Summers were spent putting up hay for the animals for winter, this was before balers and all the hay was thrown loose onto a wagon.  He was a Wilmington High School graduate.

In his younger years he worked for Fitzpatrick, Buzzy Townes Sunoco Station, and Paul Allens Shell station and liquor store. He later went on to work for the Vt. State Highway Department retiring in 2002 after many years.  In his spare time, he enjoyed doing electrical work, working on small engines, and vehicles.  He truly was a jack of all trades.

He proudly served on the Wilmington Fire Department for 19.5 years, working his way up to 1st Lieutenant.  He was a longtime volunteer and trustee for the Deerfield Valley Farmers Day Fair, beginning as a child when he would go help his dad on the grounds.  He officially retired in 2016 after 60 years. He was always on the grounds putting up ropes, helping get the horse pull ring ready, helping the ride company get set up, and fixing everything that broke.  He was the go to guy for all fair needs.

He loved camping, you could count on him to have everything you could possibly ever need from cooking supplies to tools, he brought it all.  He enjoyed NASCAR and watched it every Sunday, he even attended the races several times when they were held in Loudon NH.

He loved to go with Tabe Brown and Louie Moore to local horse pulls. He loved deer hunting and time spent in camp with the guys sharing stories and making memories. He enjoyed taking his John Deere and Ferguson tractors to antique tractor pulls and watching Brownie an Billy pull them.

His all-time favorite place was Maine where he would visit several times per year always having his next trip planned.  He loved all seafood and often brought some home to his family.   His family was his passion. He loved every single one but his first great grandson really made his heart grow.  He loved every holiday and a house full of family enjoying a meal together.  When Christmas came, he knew just what to get every single person in the family.  His gifts were always practical and useful.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Elaine (Cross) Twiss.

Stan is survived by his wife of 59 years and 281days Sylvia (Hunt), Sister Rosemary Hunt, Daughters Ann Brown (Bret) and Jennifer Decker (Dale), Granddaughters Melissa Hammond (Shawn), Jessica Fisher (David), and Erica Shepard (Joel), 6 great grandchildren, Matthew, Cameron, Kaylee, Calton, Carson, Emmaleigh, Madison, with one on the way, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Monday September 16, 2024 at Covey and Allen Funeral Home in Wilmington from 4:00-6:00. A Graveside service will take place at River View Cemetery on Tuesday September 17, 2024 at 11:00.  Reception to follow at the Wilmington Fire Station.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wilmington Firefighters Association or Deerfield Valley Rescue c/o Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home PO Box 215 Wilmington, VT 05363.