J. Mosher

JOSEPH HARRY MOSHER
FEBRUARY 16, 1931 JANUARY 1, 2018

Harry was born February 16, 1931, at Cardington, OH to Joseph F. & Mae C. Mosher. The third child of seven: Mary Evelyn (Howard) Moore, Ruth Alma (Edward) Mitchell, L. Elizabeth (Jerry) Butcher, Viola Mae (David) Rawson, Harvey H. (Vivian) Mosher, Clifford E. (Elizabeth) Mosher. He was a birthright member of Gilead Friends Church, Mt. Gilead, OH, where he attended for 30 years, before transferring his membership to Orange Road Friends Church, Lewis Center in 1960.

Harry started his education in Quakerdom A one room school in Morrow County. In 1949 he graduated from Cardington High School, attended Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH where he studied music. He earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1965 and His Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) in 1985.

In June 26, 1953 he married Berneta Jean DeLong. To this union a daughter, C. Renee was born and a son Kent R. Mosher. He was farming over 500 acres with his father and milking 50 Holstein cows.

In 1960-1987 Harry left the farm and went into insurance sales. He accepted a job and became part owner of Turner & Shepard. As an Insurance Broker, they administered group insurance for Professional Associations such as: The Ohio State Medical Society, and Trade Associations, Ohio Bankers Association. They later merged with Alexander & Alexander. Harry was soon asked to be Sales Manager for the Professional Association and to recruit and train additional personnel. Harry started as a salesman, became a sales manager and then a Vice President. In 1988-2006 Harry started his own Financial Consulting Firm and provided Financial and Estate Planning Seminars sponsored by Malone University and the Evangelical Friends Church. Seminars were conducted in many of the Friends Churches in Ohio.

In 1954 Harrys childhood desire to fly was fulfilled when he earned his private pilots license. He purchased his first plane, a Stinson Voyager, earned his Commercial license in 1957 and then purchased a Piper Cherokee; he obtained a FFA Air Taxi Certificate to fly for hire. He earned his Instrument Rating in 1968, in 1972 purchased a Piper Cherokee Six. In 1979 Harry obtained a FFA Air Carrier Operating Certificate. From 1966-1988 he provided an Air Hearse for Ohio Funeral Directors with Berneta as primary pilot. From 1971-1981 Harry along with his brother, Harvey Mosher, operated the Morrow County Airport and purchased three additional single engine airplanes: Piper Tomahawk, Cessna 150 and Cessna 182.

Harry soon felt it necessary to move closer to his Columbus office. He moved to Westerville and found a house with an airstrip on the joining farm. With his airplane in walking distance of the house, he could be in any town in Ohio within an hour. This enabled Harry to be home with his family each evening. Spiritual growth of his family was most important with Bible reading and prayer every day.

1975-2015 Harry created Mosher Tours to enable small church groups to join together and charter motorcoaches for convenient travel as a group. Harry planned the tours and with his wife, Berneta, provided Package Tours with Christian Fellowship, starting each day with devotions and prayer. Their first tour in 1975 was to Mexico City, Mexico to visit the Friends Mission Field and missionaries. In June 1984, they planned and led a tour to Taiwan for the 40th Anniversary of Friends in Taiwan. They have visited every state in the United States and every continent except the Antarctica. They offered 40-45 tours each year.

Volunteer Service

Gilead Friends and Orange Friends Churches – (Local churches)
1961 Transferred membership from Gilead Friends to Orange Friends Church. (Member at Orange Friends for 50 years) He served the following at the Gilead Friends and Orange Friends Churches:
53 years as a Sunday School Teacher.
40 years as Worship Leader for Sunday morning and Sunday evening services.
38 years as Choir Director.
15 years as Spiritual Life Elder
10 years as President of Men in Missions
7 years as Presiding Clerk

Evangelical Friends Church Eastern Region (Friends Denomination)
26 years on the Executive Board
19 years on the Pension Board. Chairman 9-years.
14 years on the Board of Finance &Stewardship Board. Chairman 9-years.
10 years on the Missionary Board where he served as the Treasurer.
10 years as Missionary Education for Men in Missions.
10 years on the Friends Action Board. Chairman 9-years.
5 years as Superintendent of Central Ohio District.
3 years as President of Men in Missions
In 1987, he served as Chairman of the International Friends Conference on Evangelism where 251 church leaders from all around the world met in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
In 1995, he founded the Friends Adult Ministries for adult Friends age 55 and over. Chairman 16-years.

Malone University Canton, OH
He served 18 years on the Board of Trustees. Chairman 3-years.

Salvation Army Columbus, OH
He served 5 years on the Advisory Board

Club Scouts & Webelos Westerville, OH
1968-1972 He served as the first male Den Mother in Central Ohio as they could not find a woman willing to take the responsibility. Special permission was granted by the Boy Scouts of America.

Harry died peacefully after a month long illness. He is survived by wife Berneta, daughter Renee (Chuck) Davis of Delaware, OH, Kent (Lynn) Mosher of Stow, OH, his 5 grandchildren Jenaye (Brian) McNeal, Janessa Davis, Kellan, Derek and Clayton Mosher, and 2 great-grandchildren Kindrin and Kyer McNeal. He is preceded in death by his sisters Mary Evelyn Moore and Viola Rawson.

Harry leaves a loving and Christian legacy to his family and all who knew him.