Robert Wayne Moss

OBITUARY FOR ROBERT WAYNE MOSS

Wayne died May 26, 2026. He was in his home being cared for by his wife and daughters. Dignity Care Hospice provided professional medical care his final weeks of life.

He was born December 6,1931 to Clara Alice Lewis and Robert Edmond Moss in Kansas City, Missouri. The family moved to Wichita, Kansas where Wayne was educated through high school and one year at Friends University. He transferred to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma to pursue a degree in ministry. He graduated from Phillips University with an A.B. in 1953 and a B.D. degree in 1957.

He married Mary Jo Taylor in 1953. They were commissioned as missionaries by the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ to serve in the Philippines where they lived and worked for seven years with the Southern Tagalog Annual Conference.

Upon returning to the United States the family settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. For several years Wayne managed a Pittsburg Paint Store in Broad Ripple and then retired after 27 years as a franchisee of Auto Driveaway Company. He served as president of the Broad Ripple Neighborhood Merchants Association. He also served on the Board of Auto Driveaway.

Wayne’s passions however, were serving his community. He was elected Precinct Committee person of the Democratic Party of Marion County, IN seven times. He was proud to help elect John Barth to the Indianapolis City-County Council. He served as a trustee on the Indianapolis-Marion County Library Board for 15 years. He was president at the local, state and national level of the American Library Trustee Association. He worked with other parents to keep Shortridge High School open as a high school. He was involved in environmental causes, wanting to leave a healthier world for his grandchildren.

In 2014, Wayne and Mary Jo moved to Robin Run Village, a retirement community in Indianapolis. There he gave energy to the Green Team, Ebony and Ivory, and the discussion group, Left Wing. He served on the Resident Council for two years, one as president. He rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals, and loved playing softball. His business sponsored a slow pitch team, where he played with men the age of his sons. But since he sponsored the team, he got to be the pitcher! He always had a pet cat or two. WK and Tigger were perhaps his favorites.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents and sons, Mark and Peter and grandson, Carson. Family remaining include his wife of 72 years, Mary Jo; daughters, Rebecca Anne, Carole Commons (Patrick); daughter-in law, Wendi Ney; grandchildren Emily Ryane Hawkins (Cory), Chantez A. NeyMoss (Justin), Kelly Amerman (Jared), Nolan Moss (Sarah), Oliver Moss, and Margaret Smyth (Christopher); five great granddaughters, Bella, Maya, Lunova, Lilith, and Eleanor. Wayne loved us all unconditionally.

A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held Sunday, June 21, 2026, in the Activity Room of Robin Run’s Tower Building, 5354 W. 62nd St., Indianapolis, IN. There will be visitation at three o’clock and a service at four o’clock, If you are inclined to memorialize Wayne in some way, please consider a contribution to NAACP, Greenpeace, or an organization you believe is working to make our world a better place to live.

Arrangements are entrusted to Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park North.