J. B. Moss

1935 - 2002

J B Moss, 66, an international vice president of Office and Professional Employees, died Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in Fort Worth.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Monday at Birchman Baptist Church, 9100 N. Normandale, Fort Worth, Texas 76116. Burial: Sturdivant Cemetery near Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Funeral Home.

J B Moss was born June 28, 1935, in Mineral Wells, to Hazel and L B Moss. J B graduated high school in Sweetwater in June 1952. He attended Texas Tech University before being inducted into the Army in 1953. He was honorably discharged in December 1955. In June 1960, J B completed his education at Texas Christian University and received a bachelor of science in commerce. J B was also a 32nd degree master mason at Southside Lodge No. 1114.

J B was a resident of Patillo for 19 years. He loved ranching, raising BeefMaster cattle and racing quarter horses.

J B's professional career began at Convair on Dec. 8, 1955, when he was hired in fabrication. After being laid off in 1956, J B was recalled to logistics in 1958 where he worked until he was elected as president of OPEIU Local No. 277 in 1960. J B retained that office until 1990. He served as business manager for Local No. 277 from 1960 until his death. J B was elected by the international membership as internation vice president of Region IV in June 1978 and held that position until his death.

J B Moss had a long and varied career in the labor movement. In addition to his membership in the Office & Professional Employees Internation Union (OPEIU), J B previously held memberships in the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and United Auto & Aerospace Workers (UAW). J B's interests and heart were constantly helping better the position of white collar workers. On behalf of OPEIU Local No. 277, J B organized several freight companies in the Metroplex, ARA, Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company and the clerical workers at various Union offices. He also organized American Income Life Insurance Company and Owens Illinois Glass Company in Waco; Cleburne Credit Union and Webber Aircraft in North Texas. J B represented the clerical and technical office workers until his death at General Dynamics, now Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Company, Computer Sciences Corporation and Kaiser Permanente CSC, the City of Fort Worth and AIL. J B negotiated multiple contracts benefiting the white collar workers at these businesses over the years.

Survivors: Wife, Martha J Moss; parents, Hazel and L B Moss; children, Scott Moss, Kelly Moss, Shelly Moss and Carla Crider; brothers, Jack Moss and Freddie Moss; grandchildren, Stella Moss, Jason Moss, Michael Crider and Rebekah Crider; five great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.