Patricia Cross

Pat Cross passed away September 8, 2026, surrounded by loving family after suffering a stroke. A wife and mother, her favorite titles were Grandma, GG, Geema. She lived for her grandkids and great grandkids.

She was born Patricia Joanne Cross on January 25, 1935, to Rubin and Lucille Cross in Minot, North Dakota. When she was six, her family moved to Portland, Oregon, where her dad got a job with a tool manufacturer.

Fastpitch softball was Pat’s first great passion. In high school, the baseball coach had Pat pitch to the boys in practice. The boys did not like that because they could not hit off her! She was on a travelling softball team sponsored by Dotty Moore’s Pennant Shop. She loved being a baseball grandma to her grandsons. She also loved watching Little League baseball and softball on TV.

Pat was a dance grandma to her granddaughters. She helped get them to practices and performances. She used her skills to help build the dance sets and make the dance costumes.

Pat married Lewis Hildenbrand in July 1955. She worked at the phone company as a statistical typist. Her attention to detail followed her in everything she did. After she started having kids, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start P&L Secretarial/Print shop. Later she ran a daycare business, caring for kids at all hours. Over time, it became a daycare for just the grandkids.

Back in the day, Pat shared her crafty side with her church and with her daughter’s, and later with her grandkid’s, schools. She was an eager task achiever. She did not like to sit still.

Pat was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Portland. She is survived by three daughters: Denise, Pam and Jodie; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of life for Pat Cross at Resurrection Lutheran Church at a date and time to be determined.