Melva Jolene Cross, 78, of Hutchinson, died August 15, 2019, at her home. She was born December 10, 1940, to John J. and Bertha (Kliewer) Warkentin.

Jolene graduated from Inman High School in 1958.  After graduating from Salt City Business College in 1959, she worked in the Hutchinson office of Kansas Power and Light.

On December 22, 1961, she married Ronald Franklin Cross, in Hutchinson. They shared almost 60 years of marriage before his death on December 16, 2018.

In 1964, Jolene and Ron purchased Burnett's News located at 304 North Main.  They changed the name to Crossroads Bookstore Inc. in 1966.  Over the next 32 years, Jolene was instrumental in making Crossroads a fixture of downtown Hutchinson and a literary gathering place for many Hutchinson residents.  She retired from Crossroads in 1998.  After retirement, Jolene was President of the Westborough Townhouse Association.

Jolene is survived by: son, John R. and wife Janise Cross; granddaughter, Annamarie Cross; grandson, Patrick Cross, all of Middletown, New Jersey; sister, Darlene Seibel and husband Wallace Seibel, Wichita Kansas; sister-in-law, Carolyn Warkentin, North Liberty, Iowa; nieces, Karen Ewart, Casper, Wyoming, Carla Brewster, Dublin, California, Kim Warkentin, Madison, Wisconsin; nephews, James Warkentin, North Liberty, Iowa, Steven Seibel, Corvallis, Oregon, and Gregory Seibel, Lawrence Kansas.

She was preceded in death by: her husband and parents; brothers, Leroy James Warkentin and John W. Warkentin; sister, Glennis B. 'Nan' Nemcovsky; and infant sister, Norma Jean Warkentin.

Cremation has taken place. A private family service will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hutchinson Public Library or at the donor's choice, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.