Former Eagle River resident and local businessman Al Cross died July 6, 2004, in Issaquah, Wash., following a severe stroke.

Mr. Cross was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Wilder, Idaho. He moved to Pomona, Calif., with his family where he finished junior and senior high schools and married a classmate. The young couple settled in Burbank, Calif. And his daughter, Dianne, was born there. In 1943, Al entered the U.S. Navy and served aboard ship and also as a Sea Bee. His marriage ended after the war and later he remarried.

When his son, Tom, was still small, the family moved to Anchorage. They settled in Eagle River in the late 1950s. They built their home on a wooded hill at mile 15. Al developed acreage at the corner of Artillery Road and the Old Glenn Highway, property that is now occupied by St. Andrew's, the Nazarene church, several businesses and homes. Brooks and Cross streets in the area bear Mr. Cross' middle and last names.

His wife operated Bessie's Beauty Salon in the Eagle River Shopping Center, and Al pursued his trade as a master plumber. He owned and operated A to Z Plumbing and Heating in the building he constructed that is now occupied by Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic at the corner of Coronado Street and the Old Glenn Highway. After Bessie's death, Al later married Eulie Davis and together they operated A to Z Co. until they sold the business in the late 1960s, moved to Spokane, Wash., and later settled in Arizona where Eulie died in 1986.

Al retired and moved to Oregon. He spent his final years with his daughter in Washington. He made several summer trips back to Alaska to visit old friends. He plumbed many a house and business in this community and thawed lots of frozen water or sewage lines. He was well respected for his honesty, integrity and craftsmanship.

He was one of the founding members of the Eagle River Lions Club, a member of the Masonic and Shriners lodges, other service organizations, and the member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters union.

Mr. Cross is survived by his daughter, Dianne Farhney of Issaquah, Wash.; daughter, Gloria Arwady of Glendale, Ariz.; and son, Tom Cross of Orange, Texas; three sisters, Alice Young of Boise, Idaho, Maxine Tucker of Redding, Calif., and Ada Smith of Norwalk, Calif; seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

A private Masonic service was held and interment was at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

Condolences may be sent to his family: Dianne Farhney, 13302 248th Avenue, SE, Issaquah, WA 98027 and/or Tom Cross, 7145 Lazy Lanes, Orange, TX 77632.

Lloyd Arden Dunham

Eagle River resident Lloyd Arden Dunham, 62, died July 15, 2004 at his home of natural causes.

A graveside service for the interment of his cremated remains will be held with military honors at Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Thursday, July 22 at 3 p.m. Following the graveside service, a celebration of life will be held at VFW Post 9785 in Eagle River.

Mr. Dunham was born November 9, 1941 in Klamath Falls, Oregon and was a high school graduate.

Mr. Dunham served in the U.S. Army from August 1967 to August 1970. During his period of service, he was stationed in Vietnam 1968-1969 in the 1st Calvary. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 2 O/S Bars, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device 1960. He was an expert with the M-16, and a Sharpshooter with the M-14.

He later served in the Alaska Army National Guard from 1971 until his retirement in July 2000.

A life member of VFW Post 9785 in Eagle River, Mr. Dunham had served as a past Commander of that post and served as the VFW State Surgeon 2003-2004. He was also President of the Alaska Veterans Memorial Museum, member of the American Legion, and a member of Elks Lodge 2682.

Mr. Dunham enjoyed fishing, camping, snow machining, 4-wheeling and hunting.

His family wrote, "Lloyd, a man who worked hard, played hard and lived his dreams."

He was preceded in death by his biological father, Fredrick Savage; and adoptive parents, Harold Dunham and Juanita Savage.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Dunham of Eagle River; mother, Lana Savage of Willits, Calif.; siblings and their spouses, Dorothy and George Sanders, Nancy and Andy Bouelds, Jim and Bonnie Savage, of Willits, and Fred Savage; son and daughter-in-law, David and Lorelei Dunham of Tualatin, Ore.; son, Sean Dunham; stepsons, John Mercado, Russell Throckmorton and his wife, Jessica, all of Anchorage; daughter, Latisha Dunham; stepdaughters and their spouses, Brenda Mercado of Santa Barbara, Calif., Linda and Kay Russell of Indian, Jackie Mercado of Anchorage, Penny and Jimmy Keene of Eagle River; grandchildren, Rebecca Russell of Indian, Devin Dunham and Jalen Dunham of Tualatin, Darron Bradford, Willie Recknagle, Ricky Recknagle, DeAnna Mercado, all of Anchorage, Robert Keene, Torry Keene, and Kristin Keene of Eagle River.

The family requests memorial donations to the Alaska Veterans Memorial Museum, P.O. Box 773364, Eagle River, AK 99577.

Arrangements were made with Evergreen's Eagle River Funeral Home, 11046 Chugiak Drive.

Barbara Kirschner

Former Eagle River resident Barbara Jean Kirschner, 63, died June 29, 2004, at a hospital in Sonora, Calif.

No service is planned.

She was born June 5, 1941, in Roseville, Calif., and raised in Auburn, Calif. She graduated from Placer High School in 1959 and from Sierra College, both in California.

She lived most of her life in Auburn, where she worked as a card dealer and bartender for more than 30 years.

Ms. Kirschner lived in Alaska in 1981 and relocated again in 1989. She made her home in Eagle River until 2001, when she moved to Anchorage. She returned to California last year.

While living here, she volunteered her time to the Iditarod Trail Committee. She also worked at the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer.

Ms. Kirschner enjoyed fishing, nature and animals.

She is survived by her daughter, Terri Henderson of Tuttletown, Calif.; sons, Wayne Cotter of Sonora and Michael Cotter of Missouri; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Tuolumne General Hospital's Long-term Care Unit, 101 Hospital Road, Sonora, CA 95370.

Arrangements were with Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home in Sonora.

Luke Woodbridge

Chugiak resident Luke Woodbridge died July 10, 2004, at his home.

A service was held Saturday at Witzleben Family Funeral Home.

Mr. Woodbridge was born Oct. 1, 1980, in Modesto, Calif., and became an Alaska resident in 1999.

He was employed by Seigel Construction.

His family said: "Luke loved hunting and fishing with his friends and family. He will always be loved and missed."

He is survived by his father, Charles Woodbridge of Modesto; mother and stepfather, Debra and Ron Laudel of Modesto; brother, Samuel Woodbridge of Anchorage; sisters, Rebecca Woodbridge of Modesto and Tamara Woodbridge of Anchorage; and grandparents, Jim and Verna Scott of Modesto.

Arrangements are with Witzleben Family Funeral Home.