Historical November–December 2025 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Our neighborhood lost another two long-time residents who helped shape and mold what Skinker- DeBaliviere has become.
We mourn their passing. Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson passed away on October 1, 2025.
She was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi, on December 11, 1931 and moved to St. Louis at six years old. Ruth was a teacher for 37 years in the St. Louis Public School system holding a variety of roles.
She had a strong desire to serve her community. Ruth was deeply committed to service and community.
She volunteered with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Philip’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the YWCA, the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council and Annie Malone Children’s Home.
Her passion for helping others also extended to Barnes Hospital’s Community Involvement for Patient Safety, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Annual Celebration and the Policeman and Firefighter’s Valentine’s Day Celebration. Ruth Married Herbert A. Johnson in 1953 and had two children, Michael and Deborah. Because of their love, Herbert surprised Ruth with a 90th birthday gift of the Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson Live and Learn in the Lou Scholarship that totaled $50,000.
As a lifelong lover of travel, Rugh began touring the U.S. by car with her husband and young children, exploring 48 of the 50 states. Ruth and Herbert eventually visited 5 of the 7 continents. Ruth truly embodied and lived by the sentiment, “It’s not the length of time you have been given, it’s how much you’ve given to others during that time.” John Francis Cross, Ph.D. was called to the Lord on October 27, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri. John was born on September 24, 1932, in New York, NY.
He grew up in New York and lived part of his boyhood in St John’s Newfoundland, birthplace of his father.
After graduating from Saint Peter’s College, John joined the Navy, serving as a pilot.
He conducted aerial reconnaissance, landing on aircraft carriers during the Korean War (Lebanon crisis).
He was stationed at NATO airfields including Chania, Crete, Valletta, Malta, Rabat, Morocco, Barcelona, Spain, and Keflavik, Iceland.
He went on to earn a master’s degree at Fordham University and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Saint Louis University.
During his time at Fordham, he met the love of his life, Jane Powers. Later, he became a NASA Fellow and worked actively on the USAF human spaceflight program including the Manned Orbiting Laboratory.
He taught at the University of the Virgin Islands, where he was appointed Dean of Social Sciences in 1970. Later, he returned to Saint Louis University, serving as a professor and academic vice president.
He was a recipient of the Severin Award for his outstanding contributions and retired as Emeritus Professor of Psychology. John was known for his love of the symphony, opera, art, and sailing.
He and Jane had sailboats in the Virgin Islands and later, on the Mississippi River near Saint Louis.
He enjoyed sailing trips to the Dry Tortugas, Lake Michigan and many other destinations.
He loved nautical maps and maps of the constellations and could navigate by the stars.
It was not uncommon to find him on his boat anytime the weather allowed, bringing family and friends with him.
He continued to sail until he was in his late 80s. Family was important to John.
He was the father of five children and was active in the life of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Every Monday night, he and Jane gathered family for Monday Night Dinner, and anyone within driving distance was welcome.
He was a long-time member of St. Roch’s Catholic Church in St. Louis, where he spent several years singing in the choir and was always remembered for offering grace before dinner.
He will be remembered as a highly intelligent, caring man, and as a devoted father and grandfather.
He will be greatly missed.
Original photograph caption
Ruth Elizabeth Blanchard Johnson.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2025.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Rugh printed typo retained. Korean War followed by Lebanon crisis in parentheses source chronology inconsistency retained, not repaired by assumption.
Original source: SD_Times2025_11.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
