Lance Raleigh Cross, an aerospace engineering undergraduate student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, passed away suddenly on December 1, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Lance grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, and planned to graduate from Embry-Riddle in Spring 2022. Lance loved travel, hiking, cooking, video games, and spending time with family and friends. His academic interests included systems engineering, materials engineering and data systems. He was involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as his Embry-Riddle fraternity, Kappa Mu Epsilon. He was a leader of Embry-Riddle's Rocket Laboratory, both as a safety officer and a project manager. In 2020, he served as a system engineer for an Embry-Riddle Research Park company. An Eagle Scout, Lance was on the Dean's list for four semesters. Embry-Riddle faculty member Larry Fineberg recalled Lance as an excellent, helpful and highly engaged student. "His work was always top-notch and he was able to communicate difficult concepts in a friendly, easy-going way," Fineberg said. "His classmates and I thought very highly of him." Lance's clever humor, brilliant ideas, and warm demeanor will be sorely missed, but his radiant spirit and pure soul will live on forever.

Lance is survived by his mother Tonja, step-father Erich, father John, older brother Ben, and numerous friends.

A memorial service in Lance's honor will be held at Harmony United Methodist Church in Hamilton, VA (380 E. Colonial Hwy) on Thursday, December 23, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the Cross family is encouraging donations for a memorial scholarship that will be established under Lance's name at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Lance Cross Memorial Scholarship will be awarded each year to a rising senior who has displayed exemplary work in the field of aerospace engineering, outstanding moral character, and a commitment to bettering the lives of others. Donations may be made via check or Venmo. Checks should be made out to "Ben Cross" and sent to the Cross residence. Venmo transactions should be sent to @Ben-Cross-7.