Ball State University Athletics
In Memory: Justin Cross, 1981-2005
January 26, 2005 | Men's Golf
Ball State student Justin Cross dies after more than 4-year battle
By Vernon Redd
Staff writer
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Justin Cross faced death with the same intensity he experienced life.
Upbeat. Unafraid. Unselfish.
Cross, 24, died early Wednesday morning at Indiana University Medical Center after a 4½-year battle with leukemia.
"He was about as good of a person as I've ever come across," said professional golfer Bo Van Pelt via cell phone Wednesday night from Florida.
"The world's not as good of a place as yesterday as far as I'm concerned."
Cross helped Richmond High School win the boys golf state title in 1997.
He graduated in 1999 and played at Ball State University before being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June 2000.
Chemotherapy kept Cross out of college for a year, but the treatments sent his cancer into remission.
"He had good care and good doctors," said his father, Ron Cross of Liberty, "and he was a fighter. He wasn't just walking the talk. He believed he would beat it."
Cross returned to the Ball State golf team in 2001 and regained much of his strength during the 2002-03 season.
Cancer reappeared in early May 2003 after the Mid-American Conference championships.
He underwent a bone marrow transplant in August 2003. He relapsed in July 2004, about three weeks before the one-year anniversary of the transplant. Cross was five classes away from a bachelor's degree.
"I am amazed by his courage and his humility," said his mother, Linda Owens of Phoenix, Ariz. "He taught me the way to live. He set the standard."
Cross is remembered as selfless by family and friends.
"I saw him about a week ago, and he was concerned with how I was doing," said Joe Moehring, who coached Cross in high school. "All I can say is he was a better person than he was a golfer.
"And he was a great golfer."
Van Pelt said Cross had unique traits of caring and character. They spent time together in December.
"In the face of all the stuff he went through, he never changed his outlook," Van Pelt said. "He was always concerned about other people more than himself."
Cross planned to wed Rachel DeJong, his girlfriend of almost two years, in late January or early February.
When his condition worsened during the holidays, DeJong stepped up the timetable. The couple wed Dec. 31 in a covenant ceremony by a hospital chaplain.
"When he relapsed in July, he said to his father he was never going to be married or have kids," DeJong said. "I wanted to make one of his dreams come true."
His sister, Whitney Cross Mires, flew monthly from Colorado to Indiana to be with Justin.
She was humbled by the overwhelming support given to her and her family. She maintained a Web page (www.caringbridge.org/in/justincross) to chronicle the final days of Justin's life.
"It was a tremendous godsend," Mires said. "It made people feel so connected. We are just blown away by the overwhelming support and outpouring of love."
Neither surprised Ball State golf coach Mike Fleck.
"The first thing that I think of is the impression that he made on people," Fleck said. "His time with us will be unforgettable. He was always upbeat, very positive and very faith-driven."
Moehring remembered Cross as a leader and admired his commitment to teammates.
DeJong shared a similar story from her husband's final days.
"We had to come to terms and talk about death," DeJong said. "I asked him if he was scared. He said he wasn't afraid of dying.
"He was afraid of leaving everyone behind."
Mike Bennett of the Palladium-Item and Phil Beebe of The Muncie Star-Press contributed to this report.
Originally published January 6, 2005
