Obituary of Walter A. Cross, Jr.

East Greenbush, NY

Walter A Cross, Jr., 85,  of East Greenbush NY and Daytona Beach FL, passed peacefully at home November 13, 2018 with his family by his side. He fought stomach cancer for 2 years.  The beloved husband and best friend of Mary Goad Cross, was born 6/26/1933 in Winooski, VT.  Predeceased by his parents, Walter A Cross, Sr. and Aline Lestage Cross,  sister Barbara Heim and young brother Richard Cross.

Walt graduated in 1951 from Philip Schuyler (Albany). He was a mechanic, a teacher, and a private pilot. He learned his mechanical & car building skills working at his father's Empire Garage in Albany.   He taught auto mechanics at Manpower in Albany under Ben Becker, and was an Assistant Professor at Hudson Valley Community College for 30 years. At HVCC he ran the engine lab and was the Northeast Technical Director for Plymouth AAA Trouble Shooting Contest.

He built and raced sprint cars and stock cars at tracks along the East Coast from the 1950's to the 1980's.  He also was a Tech Inspector at area race tracks (Malta, Plattsburg and Devil's Bowl).  He loved NASCAR & DIRT Series Racing and worked selling programs at many NASCAR tracks with his family. He was a past president of New York State Stock Car Assoc, and a member of NESCOT - North East Stock Car Old Timers. He was also a past member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assoc. 

He leaves his loving wife of 66 years Mary Cross.  His children; Linda (Ed) Godfroy, Mary Susan (John) Teal, Barbara (Michael) Commander, Walter Cross III, Michelle (Doug) Faulkner, Michael (Kelly) Cross.  His grand children;  Aimee Ryan, Lindsey (Steve) Brown, Melissa (Charles) Thomas,  Daniel Teal, Allison Commander, Douglas (Liz) Faulkner Jr., and Kyle Godfroy (Megan Darcy). And his great grand children;  Austin & Sydney Thomas, Nicholas & Natalie Brown, Alyssa Ryan, Mollie & L J Faulkner.  Also his brother Gary Cross(Sue) of South Daytona, Fl.,

and many cousins, nieces & nephews, and friends in NY and Florida.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday December 1, from noon to 3pm at the Phillips Road Firehouse, 68 Phillips Road, Rensselaer.

The family requests donations to Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Blvd, Rensselaer, NY 12144 or Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway, New York, NY 10006-3111.