Marjorie (Midge) Ruth Bethell Cross of New London died peacefully in her sleep at her beloved Lake Sunapee home on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. She was 94 years old. She was born November 16, 1929, in Montclair, NJ to Richard Sargent and Louise (Townsend) Bethell.
Midge graduated from Kimberley Academy in 1947, attended Smith College, earning a liberal arts degree in 1951.
She married Courtland J. Cross of Worcester, Mass. on January 26th, 1952. They lived in Worcester, Mass. and raised three children there.
Midge was active in the Junior League of Worcester for many years, serving as president before moving to New London in the 1970s. She was also active in local theater productions and raised several generations of dachshunds. The couple travelled extensively across the world.
In New London, Midge was a long-time member of the New London Garden Club, the Lake Sunapee Protective Association and the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club. She was an accomplished cook and spent much of her time entertaining friends and family. She was also an avid reader and an accomplished tennis player.
She was predeceased by her brother Richard (Rocky) S. Bethell in 1957, a daughter Ginger Cross Shaw in 1996 and by her husband Courtland, of 66 years in June of 2018. Members of her family surviving include a son Richard (Rip) U. Cross of New London and his wife Debbie, daughter Wendy Cross Stark of Encinitas, Calif. and her husband Doug; eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in New London on Friday, May 24th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, PO Box 683, Sunapee, NH 03782; or the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association at PO Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.
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