Hugh Levi Moore

Hugh Levi Moore, b 30 September 1929, d 31 January 2025, son of Lawrence Levi Moore and Hazel Runyan Moore, husband of Karen J Moore and father of Chris (Leona), Peter (Nanako) and Douglas (Gina). Hugh grew up on Homeplace Farm outside Canal Winchester, Ohio during the Great Depression. His formative years on a pre-war dairy farm lacking many basic amenities created an indelible mark on Hugh and consequently his children and grandchildren.

Hugh’s formative years focused on milking cows, playing sports and participating in the small town’s church. His twin brother, John, was his lifelong best friend and followed many of the same life’s paths. Hugh learned a work ethic that spurred him to ninety-five productive years as a character driven family man who loved the land and his Ohio Buckeyes football team.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1951 Hugh joined the Navy during the Korean War. Thankfully he was assigned to the USS Salem heavy cruiser which patrolled the uneventful Mediterranean Sea. As a ROTC graduate, he commanded the eight inch guns and led his men on this decorated flagship of the 6th Fleet.

Returning to the Midwest, Hugh earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He met Karen Jensen while teaching Ag Economics at Purdue University and married her in Chicago on April 4, 1964. At this time he discovered his passion in business and began a successful thirty year career in agricultural focused firms.

Hugh took his young family on a whirlwind tour of Toronto, Canada; Racine, Wisconsin; and Chicago as he climbed the corporate ladder with Masey Fergussen and CASE. Armour & Company brought the family out to Phoenix for nine years where he ascended to President of the Poultry and Dairy Company. In 1980 his career took him back to the Midwest and Indianapolis where he became a division manager for the Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative later known as Countrymark Co-op. His fifteen-year tenure culminated with the founding of Farbest Foods where he represented the Countrymark as the Chairman of the Board.

Hugh had a passion for giving back and volunteering throughout his career. In Arizona he served on the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church vestry and Phoenix Symphony Orchestra board. In Indianapolis he participated at St. Paul’s Church in the choir and as a lay minister to the homebound. With St. Philip’s Church he delivered food to the needy for more than twenty-five years. After retiring he gave back through participating in overseas agricultural coop training missions in countries such as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Russia and Zimbabwe. His greatest impact, however, was with the Church Federation where he served on the board as the Treasurer for twenty years.

Dad’s passion for adventure began young when he traveled with friends to Mexico from Ohio during college. They traveled at night and slept during the day since the car didn’t have air conditioning and the desert was prohibitively hot. Decades later, his young family benefited with many weeklong excursions around the American West in the 1970s and then tours of Europe in the 1980’s. He famously took Mom on a cruise to France, Sweden and Russia in 2022, when he was 92 years old, pushing her in a wheelchair through the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Together with Mom, he loved supporting his three boys who settled around the world. He traveled many times to New Zealand to spend time with Peter and the beloved grandchildren. When Doug did a semester in Scotland he arranged a family reunion in Glasgow. In 1995, when Chris got married in Prague he led another excursion to support his nuptials.

Hugh completed twenty-four years in the Navy beginning with ROTC and retiring as a Lt. Commander. His two years on the Salem created some of his most enduring memories. He loved to be with other veterans including his three brothers. As an active member of the Service Club of Indiana he participated on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. which allowed him to join other veterans celebrating their service to the country. He loved being with the men who served with a profound sense of humility and duty.

He was preceded in death by beloved wife of 60 years, Karen, in 2023.

Viewing will be from 12:00 noon – 2:00pm, February 7th

Funeral will be at 11:00 am, February 8th.

Both services will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6050 N Meridian, Indianapolis, IN 46208