Charles Reid Moose, Jr. of Odenton, Maryland, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2020. He was originally from Morrilton, Arkansas, born Nov. 11, 1932, to parents Charles Reid and May Hope (McClurkin) Moose.
Charles grew up mostly in Morrilton, Arkansas, participating in sports and band in high school, and graduating in MHS class of 1950. He was the third generation to attend Hendrix College in Conway, but dropped out after two years during the Korean conflict to serve our country in the Navy. He became a navy aviator, trained at Pensacola Naval Base, and met his first wife, Bonnie, in the Navy chapel choir at Jacksonville, Florida. They were married on Dec. 12, 1955. After leaving the Navy in 1956, Charles obtained his B.E.E. in circuit design from the University of Florida in 1959.
While working for Martin Marietta in Baltimore, Charles welcomed daughter Cheryl in May 1962, and son Scott in October 1963. Charles completed his master's in electrical engineering from Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After being transferred by Martin Marietta in 1964 to Canoga Park, California, daughter Sheila was added to the family in August 1965. Charles completed his military service as part of the Navy Ready Reserves with a rank of commander in 1975, but ended up serving the military again, as he worked for his company in Wiesbaden, Germany, under USAF contract as a computer software specialist from 1979–1985.
After returning to the United States, Charles worked in Springfield, Virginia, and eventually did some freelance consulting. He moved back to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1990 to head the Department of Engineering at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, following his mother’s role model of the value of education and teaching.
Charles retired in 1992, but continued to live a very full life as he helped his wife, Bonnie, start up a business as a teddy bear artist, and as he became an importer and distributor for German-based Grisly Spielwaren, maker of teddy bears and animals. After his wife’s death in 1997, Charles continued research related to their hobby: Theodore Roosevelt, Steiff, and the history of teddy bears. He also was recognized by several radio talk show hosts, as they would ask for Charles from Hampden to call in to give his input on issues of discussion. In July 2003, Charles married his second wife Lisa. He had great joy in encouraging her in her role as a teacher, and she motivated and edited several articles based on his teddy bear research, which were printed in Teddy Bear and Friends magazine.
In 2010 Charles was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but he continued to find ways to participate in many activities, including being the oldest participant in Baltimore’s Annual Tuba Christmas, playing his high school double bell euphonium. He served at his church, driving others who could not. He always enjoyed singing hymns he had grown up singing at First Methodist Church in Morrilton. He enjoyed times visiting his son and daughter and their families in Missouri. Parkinson’s disease took a toll on him physically, and his last year was spent in and out of hospitals and rehab. He passed away peacefully at home, with his wife Lisa at his side.
Charles was 87 years old and preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie (Holzman) Moose; daughter, Cheryl Ann Moose; parents; and two brothers, Robert and John Moose.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa (Pease) Moose; son, Scott (and Julie) Moose; daughter, Sheila (and Doug) Keating; seven grandsons: C. Reid, Joshua (and Rachel), and Tyler Moose; Jeffrey (and Jessica), William, Russell, and Phillip Keating; two great granddaughters, Kallen and Karis Keating; brothers William Moose and David Moose; and sister, Kathy Kordsmeier.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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