Velam Ellen Cross

Velma “Ellen” Clark Cross, 96, of Terre Haute, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 5:45 a.m., on Saturday, April 4, 2026. She was born in Lawrence Co., Tennessee, on April 22, 1929, to Nathan Clark and Bessie Gobbell Clark. She married Harlan Cross in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, on November 7, 1953.

She worked on her family’s farm while growing up. Before her marriage, she worked as an optician in an optical lab, and enjoyed making eyeglasses to help people have better vision. In the 1970’s, she and Harlan operated Cross Upholstery. She worked at Glas-Col Apparatus in Terre Haute, for several years, and retired in 2003.

Ellen loved gardening, quilting, caring for her family, and serving Christ. In her later years, she attended First Baptist Church, in West Terre Haute. She loved hearing the Gospel preached, and it was her heart’s desire that all people be saved.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan Cross; her parents Nathan and Bessie Clark; sisters Fay Etta Clark, of Lawrence Co., Tennessee, and Delcie Clark Reid, of De Ridder, Louisiana; brothers William Clark and Virgil Clark, both of Lawrence County, Tennessee; two nieces, Katherine Mobbs, of Ethridge, Tennessee, and Ramona Reid Miller, of Houma, Louisiana.

She is survived by her son, William Cross, and Bonnie Daugherty Cross, of West York, Illinois, her daughter, Becky Cross, of Terre Haute; sisters Edna Clark Reinhart, of West Carrollton, Ohio; Ann Clark Nash, of Summertown, Tennessee; Sue Clark Lynch, and John Lynch of Loretto, Tennessee; Betty Clark Mobbs and Randy Mobbs of Ethridge, Tennessee, and Linda Clark Smith and Tony Smith, of Lawrenceburg; and one brother, James Clark of Lawrenceburg; and several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place in Fitzpatrick Funeral Home, 220 North 3rd street, West Terre Haute, IN, 47885 from 11a.m. until 1 pm, on Friday, April 10, 2026 with the funeral immediately following. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park.

The family wishes to thank Dr. James Westmoreland, of Sullivan Co., Community Hospital and the wonderful, compassionate staff of the ACU of Sullivan Co. Community Hospital, along with Gentiva Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church, West Terre Haute, IN, or to Sullivan Co. Community Hospital of Sullivan, IN.