Sandra wrote the following:

This was my Grandfather, my mother is Ruby Marie Cross Kirkpatrick.   My Uncle,  James Paul Cross, was born one month after the death of their father,  leaving my Grandmother with 8 young children to raise.  Grandpa was one of many to fall victim,  suddenly ,and  while in the best of  health, to the Spanish Flu epidemic that  swept Hamilton and Wayne Co. as well  as the rest of the nation.

Roy Franklin Cross, a hustling young farmer, living five miles northeast of Dahlgren, son of Benjamin Franklin Cross, was born in Wayne Co. Ill. Feb. 10, 1881, died at his home of pneumonia which developed from the flu, Feb. 5, 1920, aged 38 years 11 months and 26 days.

At the age of 24 years he was married to Miss Nancy Clara Voliva, daughter of Eld. and Mrs. J.H. Voliva and to this union were born seven children, two boys and five girls; Frank, Robert, Fern, Flossie, Ruby, Marguerite and Wanda, who with the mother, are left to mourn his untimely death.

He was one of those men who wanted to look neat himself and have everything about the house and farm---, so he kept everything in good shape about his home. He provided his family with plenty and considerable property.

He professed Christianity at Pleasant Hill in 1908 and joined the Baptist Church at that place and lived in accordance with his profession.  He was well liked by everyone that  knew him. While we do not doubt the wisdom and goodness of God toward us, yet human reasoning would say "It would have been better for one of his older ones who have no little children to have been taken" but, "His will is wisest, His way is best, and in perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest".

Funeral services were conducted by Eld. J.H. Allen and the body was buried at Pleasant Hill.