Peter W. Cross passed away on July 29, 2015 at his home in Carrollton, Texas at the age of 80, surrounded by family and loved ones. Pete was born March 10, 1935 in Albany, NY to Marshall W. Cross and Violet L. Gooding Cross.He spent his early years in Albany, New York and the teen years in Hoosick Falls, New York, spending much time with his grandparents Warren and Ethel Gooding, and graduating from Hoosick Falls High School June, 1952. Upon graduation he entered the Air Force and spent 22 months of his tour in Okinawa and the Philippines. He was an Honor Graduate from Ninth Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and at the time of his Honorable Discharge he had risen to the rank of Staff Sergeant.After the service he attended the University of Vermont and graduated from the University of Maine in 1961 with a degree in forestry. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.Pete embarked on a career in the forestry/wood products business, with places of employment at Weyerhaeuser, Amos Thompson, The Dean Company, and as part owner of Columbia Plywood Corporation. Among his stops were Marshfield Wisconsin, North Troy Vermont, Princeton West Virginia, Columbus Indiana and Newport, Vermont.His first retirement came in 1982, when he resigned from Columbia Plywood Corporation. He purchased a marina on Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont, which he operated for five years. In March of 1987 he was recruited for a two month project in the Amazon jungle of Brazil by a non-profit group known as International Executive Service Corps (IESC, an affiliated entity of the US State Department). After successful completion of the project, he was offered and accepted the position of Deputy Director of Egyptian Operations in Alexandria, Egypt. Pete held many important positions during his eleven years with IESC, including Director of Operations Mauritius, Vice President/CFO IESC Headquarters, Vice President Africa/Middle East, Director of Operations Egypt, and Chairman of IESC World Conference.He retired for the third time to Carrollton, Texas in 1999, where he was able to enjoy fishing, watching his grandsons athletic events, and active participation in Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch. His greatest joy came from the mentoring of young men through Rotary and CFBISD.Among the many awards Pete earned in his lifetime are: Eagle Scout, 50 year award - Masonic Union Lodge in Troy, Vermont, David Rockefeller Spirit of Service Award 1999, Texas Volunteer of the Year 2008. He was the recipient of numerous awards from the countries where he served and from the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. embassies and consulates.On June 30, 1956 he married Ardean (Ardy) Farber in Glens Falls, New York. In addition to his wife of 59 years he is survived by his daughters Deborah and her husband Kyle Wood of Carrollton, Texas, Rebecca and her husband George Poirier of Madison, Wisconsin and Sarah and her husband Marco Gross-Santos of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Also surviving are his grandsons Tanner Poirier, David Wood, Travis Poirier, Ian Troost, step grandsons Remi Gross-Santos, Miles Gross-Santos, brothers Dr. Robert Cross and Richard Cross, and four nephews and two nieces. He is sorely missed by his precious dog Shotzie who is still waiting for him to come in the front door. He was predeceased by an infant daughter Lisa Jane.A Memorial Service in celebration of Petes life will be held at 2:00 PM on August 17, 2015 at North Dallas Funeral Home, 2710 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas.Memorial contributions can be made to: The Dallas Foundation with notation to The Pete Cross Memorial Mentoring Program, c/o Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch PO Box 110417, Carrollton Texas 75011 or to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.