Dean Emeritus "Prof" Cross Dies

An icon to many Adventist engineers, Walla Walla College Dean Emeritus Edward F. Cross died Saturday, Sept. 28, at nearly 94 years of age.

“Prof Cross,” as his students affectionately called him, was chair of the Walla Walla College (WWC) Engineering Department from its inception in 1947 until 1974 and continued to teach full time until 1979. Cross guided the Department from an experimental program into one of the largest programs on campus, nationally accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The Edward F. Cross School of Engineering was named in his honor in 1991.

“Professor Cross has had a tremendous impact on Adventist Education” says Robert Wood, current dean of the School of Engineering. “He changed the direction of a lot of people’s lives, including my own.”

A funeral service was held on Sabbath, Oct. 12, in the Walla Walla College Church. Cross is survived by son, Carlton, WWC professor of engineering, and daughter Marilyn Karlow.  •

 

Featured in: November 2002

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