Charles Emanuel Mossburg, known as “Chuck” and “Charley” to his friends, passed away August 9, 2021 after a long life of friendship and service to others. He was born July 10, 1927 in Youngstown, Ohio, the third of six children born to Gail Ingersoll Mossburg and Norval Roy Mossburg.
Education was one of Charles’ core values and he never stopped learning. He completed a Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking, Leadership Training, and Human Relations. Charles earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Ohio State University and a Master of Arts from Western New Mexico University and never stopped learning. He loved to read, made frequent trips to buy new books, and always passed those on to friends or the library for others to enjoy.
Charles worked for the Social Security Administration, in Baltimore, Maryland where he met his wife of many years, Irene Margaret Mossburg. Charles wrote an article about his work that included going into people’s homes in a public outreach effort to assist citizens with their Social Security benefits.
In a 1978 article published in the Baltimore Sun, Charles wrote, “I took the government to the people, into the homes of the sick and infirm I went, and into hospitals, nursing homes and asylums as well. Filling out forms on kitchen tables and hospital beds. Wondering if the first check would arrive before it was too late. Eating a sandwich for lunch while driving to the next needy case. And on cold winter evenings leaving my family to speak before union, VFW or farm groups and telling them about their rights.”
Charles and Irene travelled extensively in Europe, visited Russia, and in the late 1970s spent time in South Korea as Friendship Force Ambassadors participating in cultural exchange between South Korea and the United States. Friendship Force was started during the Carter Administration as a goodwill program focused on fostering understanding between the United States and other countries.
After retiring from his post with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore in 1979, Charles and Irene moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where Charles served as a volunteer for Court Update, a statewide project to monitor Magistrate Courts. This post included involvement in monitoring civil and criminal cases as well as promoting public education about the courts.
Charles was a long-time Gila Regional Medical Center Auxiliary volunteer and a dear friend to many, both in the Auxilary and the Cancer Center, which was his first love and involvement at GRMC. He helped its patients and staff in his volunteer role and by being a positive presence for everyone. An Auxiliary officer stated, “He was a generous man, contributing time as a volunteer and financially, providing things for the cancer center.” He was well-liked and respected by all with whom he interacted and was always a great luncheon companion at frequent Auxillary gatherings. He was a member of the GRMC Auxiliary for nearly 30 years and was recognized for his exemplary service multiple times.
In the early 1990s Charles joined Silver City race walkers and for many years could be seen almost every Saturday with the group pounding the pavement in the Silver City area. During the week he was a faithful user of the Fox Field track. Charles became a race walking competitor in Grant County Senior Olympics and also participated in races in the surrounding area. He will be remembered as a good walking companion due to his quiet gentle demeanor and his interesting conversation both during a workout and the subsequent reward—breakfast!
Charles continued daily walking until the last several months of his life.
Charles was predeceased in 2020 by his wife, Irene Mossburg. He is survived by a nephew, William Baker and his wife, Cindy of Wintersville, Ohio, as well as his many friends. He is missed and is remembered for his kindness and friendship to all.