Ambrose D. Cross, a Howard County Circuit Court bailiff and the county's oldest employee, died Friday at his Ellicott City home of heart failure. He was 80.

A mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Ellicott City.

Before being named baliff in 1976, Mr. Cross was a deputy sheriff in Howard County. Before that he worked 43 years for the U.S. Postal Service.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys Cross of Ellicott City; five daughters, Shirley M. Greene of Columbia, Gloria Cross Hollis of Catonsville, Patricia D. Cook of Catonsville, Teressa Cross of Ellicott City and Mona Lisa Cosgrove of Alexandria, Va.; a sister, Montray Rochon of Seat Pleasant; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.