Delores Mae (Cross) Benham
A familiar Milan smiling face gained her Angel wings, Delores Mae (Cross) Benham passed away on Sunday August 2 at her home surrounded by family. Delores was born on January 19, 1935 to Owen Cross and Anna (Bushorn) Johnson. She was a lifelong resident of Milan.
Preceded in death by her mother, Anna Johnson, father, Owen Cross, stepfather Clyde “Pete” Johnson, sister Janet Cross, sister Joann Cross, and brother Earl “Buddy” Cross. David (Mary Chris) Cross, Milan and Joyce (Richard) Meyer, Batesville are her surviving siblings.
As a single mother of three daughters, Delores worked 21 years at the Milan Drug Store. She then began working for Dearborn County Hospital as a surgical prep technician. Delores had an impeccable work ethic, with no challenge being too small or large. She retired from the hospital after nearly 25 years.
Delores was a proud independent and determined woman. She dedicated herself to always being the caregiver, truly living a life of service to her family and friends. Delores set a precedence in always being sophisticated in dress, having her hair coiffed, and nails manicured. She loved her scarves, big sunglasses, and her signature Estee Lauder Youth Dew perfume.
In her personal life, she was an avid reader, reading from medical journals daily. She loved her Coca Cola, making sure she was the one to give every grandchild their first taste. Her house was always immaculate, she was an accomplished cook, and enjoyed embroidering, creating beautiful quilts and pillowcases. Delores enjoyed collecting and sharing new recipes with her family. Her baby doll collection was one of her prize possessions and sharing them with her granddaughters gave her immense joy. By far her greatest love was her role as a mother and a grandmother.
Delores will be deeply missed by daughters Linda (Larry) Weaver of Winter Haven, Florida, Donna (Frank) Ingram of Rockport, and Brenda (Jerry) Johnson of Milan; grandchildren Lori (Tim) Campbell-Kennedy of Lake Wales, FL, Chris (Linda) Campbell of Lake Placid, FL, Craig (Hannah) Campbell of Sebring, FL, Rusty (Christin) Weaver of Lake Wales, FL, Lydia (Chase) Spell of Winter Haven, FL, Adam Weaver of Winter Haven, FL, Tonya Ingram of Carmel, Ronda Kennedy of Rockport, Tracy (Steve) Roseberry of Batesville, Elizabeth (Tony) Johnson of Batesville, and Nicolas (Ashley) Johnson of Sunman, along with 30 great grandchildren and 1 great great-grandson.
Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10-12 at Neals Funeral Home in Osgood. Funeral services will be held at 12 pm., also at the funeral home. Burial will be at Cravens Cemetery in Milan. Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Milan or the Ripley County Food Pantry in care of the funeral home. State mandated social distancing rules apply, and mask will be required. Online condolences can be placed on Nealsfuneralhome.net.
