Obituary of Delbert Richard Moats

Delbert Richard Moats, 80, of Morgantown, WV passed away in the Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown, WV after a battle with colon cancer. He was born April 22, 1935 in Grafton, WV a son of the late James Delbert Moats & Ora M. Poe Moats. He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Mahaffey Moats of Morgantown, WV. He is survived by a daughter Kimberly Wherley of Fairmont, WV, a sister Verlin Mitchell of Fairmont, WV, a granddaughter and her husband Amber & Justin Steele of Fairmont, WV, two great grandchildren Landon Andrew Steele & Bellamy Jolynn Steele, a sister in law and her husband Kathy & Jim Lowry of Crosby, TX, two step children Kim Kirby Jackson of Gilmer County, WV & Tim Kirby of Grafton, WV and four step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother in law James Mitchell. Mr. Moats retired from the United States Postal Service in Clarksburg, WV. He had previously served with the Railroad Post Office between Grafton, WV, Cincinnati, OH to Bowling Green, KY and the Highway Post Office between Buckhannon, WV, Connellsville, PA, Parkersburg, WV to Pittsburgh, PA with 32 years of service. Delbert had also been previously employed as a salesman by the Harry Green Automobile Dealership in Clarksburg, WV, Sam’s Club as a tire salesman and worked as a sales clerk for Gwynn Tire Service where he enjoyed 15 years of service before full retirement. He was a 1954 graduate of Grafton High School. Mr. Moats was active in basketball and bowling, enjoyed fishing, West Virginia University basketball & football and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a member of the B.P.O.E. Fairmont Elks Lodge #294in Fairmont, WV and was a former member of the B.P.O.E. Morgantown Elks Lodge #411 for over 50 years. Delbert loved to be around family & friends and was also very fond of his pet cat “Bo”. The family will receive friends at the Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV 26554 on Sunday, April 17, 2016 from 2-8 p.m. and on Monday, April 18, 2016 from 10-11 a.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home 11:00 a.m. Dr. Earl W. Klein officiating. The committal service will follow in the Woodsdale Memorial Park in Grafton, WV. The B.P.O.E. Fairmont Elks Lodge #294 will conduct ritualistic services in the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.FORDFUNERALHOMES.com