Edsel D. Moss

Edsel D. Moss, age 89, passed away Sunday November 20, 2016 surrounded by family and friends. Born in Moss, WV (known as Stewart’s Creek) on October 11, 1927, Edsel was the sixth of eleven children born to Jennings B. Moss and Gertrude Hite Moss. Raised as a sharecropper’s son, Edsel worked hard in school and won the coveted Golden Horseshoe Award – a contest which tested his knowledge of West Virginia history. He won a trip to the state capital in Charleston, WV and got to march in a parade there – quite a feat for a “poor ‘ol country boy”. He graduated from Sand Fork High School in 1945. Edsel enlisted in the Army where he became a drill instructor. He spent his time in the Washington, DC area where he was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Maryland. He returned to his hometown of Glenville, WV where he attended and graduated from Glenville State College. He began his Master’s degree at West Virginia University but returned to Glenville to marry his college sweetheart Erma Lee Ball. Edsel began teaching in a one-room school house in Rosedale, WV, but as his family began to grow, he realized he needed to leave West Virginia to find a better job to support his family. He came to the Cleveland area in 1952 where his brother Jennings taught him the tool & die trade and Edsel became a very good layout man. He retired from Caterpillar in Mentor in 1985 as their Quality Assurance Manager in the Metallurgy Lab. In 1963 Edsel and his family moved to Mentor. One of his greatest accomplishments, beside his family, was starting the Mentor Lake Area Baseball Little League with his wife Erma. They were able to secure “used” uniforms from the Cleveland area so each boy looked like a major leaguer. The manager’s softball game against Ghoulardi, Big Chuck and Little John, raised thousands of dollars to help the boys. Edsel and Erma followed the boys throughout their lives, affectionately referring to them as “my little leaguers” even though the boys were in their 50’s. Edsel also belonged to the American Legion and as a lifetime member of the Elks. Edsel is survived by his daughters Marjorie Wright of Fairbury, IL and Doris Moss of Concord Twp.; son Ed D. Moss of Bedford, TX; brothers Joseph Moss of Elyria and Earl Richard “Dick” Moss of Mentor; 8 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 4 great great-grandchildren; he also leaves his beloved dog Daisy. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Erma Lee Moss. A celebration of life will be held from 3:30 pm - 5 pm Sunday November 27, 2016 at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060, where a service to honor Mr. Moss’s life will be from 5 – 5:45 pm and the visitation will continue after the service until 6:30 pm. As Edsel was an avid story teller, the family asks that you write and bring with you a favorite “Edsel” story. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Mr. Moss’s memory and his love of animals to the Lake Humane Society, 7564-E Tyler Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Edsel D. Moss

October 11, 1927 - November 20, 2016