W. Russell Moss

WILLIAMSBURG - W. Russell Moss died Aug. 26, 2008.
Born and raised in Chicago, Russ lived in a small apartment with his parents and two brothers. With a rapidly expanding and bustling city as his back yard, he found adventure in the train trestles and boxcars and alleyways. Somehow surviving such play, he went on to work full-time while attending night school at Northwestern University, finally earning a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
A veteran of World War II, he served in Intelligence in the Army Air Corps in various locations, ending with the 3rd Air Division Headquarters in England. He was honorably discharged as captain in 1945.
Although accounting matched Russ' exacting and frugal Scottish nature, he felt sales held more promise. Returning to Chicago, he entered into sales for various firms. Meanwhile, sailing captured his interest, and he participated in every weekend regatta on Lake Michigan for several years, as well as a Miami-Nassau race.
But in 1950, a new love captured Russ' heart, and in 1951, he married Gloria Milfeld. As she and the sea did not agree, he gave up sailing for family life. They moved to Milwaukee, eventually settling in River Hills where they raised five children and became active members of the Town Club.
In Milwaukee, Russ continued as a sales representative for Edwards Co., working for 31 years, and retired in 1979.
With the nest long since emptied and fully tired of Wisconsin winters, Russ and Gloria packed bags and moved to Kingsmill in Williamsburg, Va., in 1993.
Russ had joined the Rotary Club when he lived in Milwaukee. He continued his membership at The Rotary Club of Williamsburg. For the past 14 years, he was a regular attendee, where he taught fellow members how to prolong a meal.
W. Russell Moss is survived by his wife, Gloria; their children, Julie Scandora, W. Russell Moss II, Stuart Moss, Nancy Moss, and Diane Lawrence; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1, at the Catholic Campus Ministry Chapel on Richmond Road, officiated by Father Jim Curran.
Remembrances can be made to the Rotary Club of Williamsburg.
Nelsen Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. On-line condolences may be registered at www.nelsenfh.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.