Harold Wiliam Moss, 92, passed away peacefully following a short illness. He was born in Newton Falls, Ohio, to Narvie and Naomi (King) Moss.
Harold grew up in Parkman Township, where he graduated from high school in 1950. He was very active in sports and was an all-county basketball player and baseball player. He also participated in the school plays.
In 1948, Harold and his two best friends, Kaarlo Pollari and John Farley, received permission to miss school to attend the 1948 Cleveland Indians versus Boston Braves World Series game. Principal Masters said, “OK, you should go, because you’ll probably never get another chance.” He often reminisced about their driving to the Cleveland Municipal Stadium and being among the first at the doors to the bleachers for the next day’s game. He loved talking about the party atmosphere with Frankie Yankovich’s polka band showing up to play for the waiting fans. What a memory of the last time the Cleveland Indians won a World Series.
Harold was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and served in the Korean War in the 555th Field Artillery battalion.
When he returned home in 1953, he married and had two daughters, Cindy Moss, of Geneva, and Diane Moss White Martinis, of Cleveland.
He worked for H.W. & N. E. Moss Feed Mill as a truck driver.
A few years later, Harold joined his brother-in-law, Robert Bossow, to work as a heavy equipment operator and eventually as job superintendent for concrete construction jobs, such as water treatment and sewer treatment plants. He retired in 1994 and went on to co-manage his family’s dairy farm. With the family’s support, they sold the farm in 2017, and he retired again at age 85.
Harold was a multi-talented man who could make anything or fix anything needing his touch, and was often called upon by family and friends to assist them with projects. As one member of the family said, he was a problem solver and strategic thinker, and a teacher on many levels.
In 1973, Harold married the love of his life, Kathleen (nee Ule) and they celebrated their 50th anniversary last August. They spent their years traveling together alone and with friends to many places in our country and in the world, and enjoyed cruises with friends. They also were avid golfers and part of a small group of friends known as the “Golf & Feast Group.”
Harold and Kathy spent the past 25 winters in Bradenton, Fla.’s River Isles community. He was a well-respected member of the community and served on the golf association board of directors for nine years. Harold took his “problem solver and strategic thinker” traits with him and was instrumental in many improvement projects to the 9-hole golf course.
Besides his daughters and wife, Harold is survived by his sisters Gladys Huffman and Barbara Thorn; and his three grandchildren, Michael (Becky) White, Danielle Martinis and fiancé Delbert Pider, and Marcus Martinis.
He is the proud great-grandfather to Reid and Hudson White, and Lily Pider.
Harold will be missed by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great- nephews; and in-laws Andrew (Roselee) Ule, Donald (Beverly) Ule, Hermine Villers, Robert Bossow and Paul Risko.
He is preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Andrew and Eldonna Ule; sisters Esther Wolff, Beatrice Bossow, Katherine Villers and Karen Risko; brother, Howard; and brothers-in-law, Donald Wolff, Donald Villers, Richard Huffman and Richard Thorn.
A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at Sly Family Funeral Home. 15670 W. High St., Middlefield, from 10-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m., with Pastor Randy Kaser officiating.
He was laid to rest in Overlook Cemetery at a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, Harold requests donations be made to Semper Fi & America’s Fund (https://thefund.org); or Fisher House Foundation (https://fisherhouse.org); or any other charitable organization supporting veterans.
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