Power plant foreman a hospital volunteer
10/28/2008Bernard O. Moss, Sr., a longtime Toledo Edison employee, died Sunday in the University of Toledo Medical Center, formerly Medical College of Ohio Hospital the same hospital where he volunteered for about 20 years after his retirement.
He was 83. The cause of death was not known.
He retired from the company in 1986 as a foreman in the operations department at the company s Bay Shore power plant, according to his family.
He was first employed at the plant after serving in the Navy during World War II, but left shortly afterward.
On his first day, he had 16 hours of pulling cinders out of boilers, his son, Bernard Moss, Jr., said. He left, and had two or three other jobs, and ended up back at Edison. He decided that good, steady employment and a decent place to work were what he needed.
Through the years, he rose to the foreman position, where he helped operate the power plant s generators from the control room.
He was dedicated to staying in one place, and supporting his family, said his daughter, Brenda Sue Williams, who lives in Marietta, Ga. He always said, It s a good, stable job because everybody always needs electricity.
Throughout his life, he remained committed to Paragon Masonic Lodge, the Heatherdowns Church of the Brethren, and his baseball team the Detroit Tigers.
Mr. Moss was born in Toledo in 1924, and attended Libbey High School before enlisting in the Navy.
Though he retired in 1986, relatives and friends said he couldn t stay put finding hobbies and activities to keep him occupied.
For about 20 years, he volunteered at the hospital.
I think it was another thing to keep himself busy, Mrs. Williams said.
He also occupied himself with with frequent visits to garage sales to purchase items for his own garage sales, according to his daughter.
He didn t like to sit still, so he d drive around to garage sales, Mrs. Williams said.
His family and friends described him as fun-loving.
He was a real sweet guy, easy to get along with, said JoAnn Shufritz, a longtime friend from Heatherdowns Church of the Brethren. He was always on the go. He liked to do things for other people, and was always a good guy.
His wife, Mary Ruth, died in 1999.
Surviving are his son, Bernard O. Moss, Jr.; daughter, Brenda Sue Williams; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Walter Funeral Home, where visitation will be after 2 p.m. Thursday.
The family suggests tributes to the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio.