Obit: Moore, Elton (1928 - 2008)

Contact: Ken Wood
Email: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnanmes: Moore, Skeels, Scott, Larson, Babey, Cadwell, Marsh

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) July 31, 2008

Moore, Elton H. (20 June 1928 - 29 July 2008)

COLBY -- Elton H. Moore, 80, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Services for Elton will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at First United Church of Christ Colby, Wis. The Rev. Kenneth A. Dix will officiate.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Elton was born June 20, 1928, in Washington, D.C., to Fred W. and Alice (Skeels) Moore who were then living in Caseyville, Ill. Within two years they moved to Belleville, Ill., where Elton graduated valedictorian of his eighth grade class at Signal Hill School. He graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1946. While in high school, he joined the local musicians union and played various jobs with jazz quintets playing string bass.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1946, serving in the Army Ground Forces Band in Caserta, Italy (near Naples), and later in Livorno, Italy (near Florence). He was discharged in 1947. After attending the spring semester at Belleville Junior College, Elton transferred to Michigan State College, East Lansing, Mich., where he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1952.

He married Beverley Scott in January 1951. Deborah was born in January 1952, and David in 1953. The divorce was finalized in 1954, with Deborah and David living with Elton in his folk's home in Bellville, Ill.

In 1956, Vyonne Larson of Elbow Lake, Minn., came to teach at Signal Hill School, where Elton had graduated. They were married in Speedway, Ind., in August 1958.

After working as a Technical Sales Engineer for Standard Oil (Ind.), Allis Chalmers and Mobile Oil Co., Elton entered the Lutheran Theology at Chicago. He graduated and was ordained in the Lutheran Church in America (later ELCA) in June 1964. His first pastorate was Christ Lutheran Church, Evansville, Ind. While there he integrated that congregation.

In 1967, Elton was called to Beaver Dam, where St. John's Lutheran Church was in process of building a new sanctuary. That project was completed and the congregation became involved in a migrant ministry, with several of the members involved in the Lauvach Literacy Program -- teaching English as a second language in migrant camps in the area.

Meanwhile, Elton and Vyonne welcomed additions to their family -- Kathy R. born in Evansville, Kellyann Alice and Michael Frederick, both born in Beaver Dam.

Son David died in 1972.

Elton was then called to Trinity Lutheran in Unity in 1976. First priority for Trinity was a new parsonage, which they moved into in November 1976.

Elton left the call at Unity in 1983 but continued with interim pastorates and supply assignments until 1986.

He attended Control Data Institute in Minnesota for six months of training in computer programming and analysis, after which he worked at Figis and then Marshfield Clinic in the information systems department.

Elton remained active in his retirement working with the 1990 U.S. Census Office in Wausau as electronic data supervisor (second shift foreman). He served as camp commissioner at Tesomas Boy Scout Camp, then helped to start Akela's World Cub Scout Camp as a program area director. He worked with Friends of Sunburst (youth home in Neillsville).

He continued to work with Samoset Council BSA, the Community Education Advisory Council and its outgrowth organization, the I.D.E.A. foundation of Colby, and the STEP program.

Elton was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Vyonne L. Moore; and his son, David Moore. Surviving relatives include daughters, Kathy R. Moore of Madison and Kellyann A.M. Babey and her husband, Paul Babey of Thunder Bay, Ont.; son, Michael F. Moore and his wife, Jennifer J. Bailey and grandson, Nicholas Elton Moore of North Chelmsford, Mass.; daughter, Debbie Moore, grandson, Steven Cadwell and granddaughter, Laura Marsh and her husband, Neil Marsh, and great-grandchildren, Brendan, Kallie and Gabrielle Marsh, all of Reed City, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Elton's name may be directed to the Boy Scouts of America.

 

 


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