Ronald W. Moses (1919-2008)

MOSES, LABARR, ORCUTT, KNOX, CAFFERTY

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 9/7/2008 at 07:32:08

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Sunday, September 7, 2008.

A memorial service for Ronald W. Moses will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave., Ames.

Ronald W. Moses was born July 20, 1919, to Scott and Margaret Moses, of rural Ames. He attended North Grant Consolidated School and Ames High School, graduating in 1937. He majored in poultry husbandry at Iowa State College, graduating with a bachelor's degree. in 1942. At ISC, Ron met Lois Mae LaBarr of rural Clarion, and they were married on Dec. 26, 1940.

Throughout college, he continued to work on the family farm east of Ames, building up a large (for the time) turkey raising operation. The family grew as well with the arrivals of Ron Jr., Brad and Marsha. By the early 1950s, it was clear that small farms soon would be economically unsustainable, and he gradually entered the urban work force.

When the National Animal Disease Laboratory opened east of Ames, he took a management position there, where he worked for a decade. In 1970, he joined the Veterinary College at ISU, where he worked for the next 15 years to retirement. Along the way, he and Lois shared their love of education and ISU with their children, instilling an enthusiasm that would carry all three of them to higher degrees and on to careers in science and medicine.

How we remember the trips to the Veishea parade, open houses, greenhouses, gardens and Homecoming. They made the university a friendly place where we wanted to be. Life at the dinner table and visits with family and friends were stimulating, with discussions of science, space, art and politics; sometimes lasting way into the night. We will never forget Dad's stunned silence the night Sputnik was launched; having realized the world would never be the same.

Early life on a small farm was a bit Spartan at times, but Ron and Lois' zest for new things took us on wonderful family vacations to more and more distant points. They developed a love for Yellowstone and the Poudre River Canyon of Colorado, returning many times to a favorite resort on the river.

Ron and Lois were active in First United Methodist Church of Ames. He was a charter member of Ames' Golden K Kiwanis club, as well as Toastmasters, a 4-H leader and other civic and professional organizations.

He is survived by son, Ron Moses Jr. and his wife, Jean, of Los Alamos, N.M.; son, Bradley Moses and his wife, Nancy, of Hanover, Mass.; daughter, Marsha Orcutt and her husband, Larry, of Middletown, Ohio; grandson, Matt Moses, his wife, Erin Knox, and great-granddaughter, Shannon, of Baltimore, Md.; grandson, Peter Moses, of Ft. Collins, Colo.; and grandson, Scott Moses, of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois; his brother, Gerry Moses; and his sister, Miriam Cafferty.

Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family.

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