Clayton Vincent "Vince" Moore

Clayton Vincent Moore, 86, of Springfield, died Saturday, March 14 at his home. He was born in Galesburg on September 27, 1922 and married Nadine Riebeling on February 15, 1946. He was preceded in death by Nadine his wife of 59 years, parents James and Genevieve Cummins, granddaughter Amy O'Neill Grant, and sister Margaret Fainter. He is survived by his daughters Christine Groves, Carole O'Neill, Kathy Fisher (husband Jack), son Terry, two grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Vince retired from the United States Post Office after 36 years of service beginning as a clerk and finishing his career as the Rural Route 6 Carrier. He honorably served his country in World War II in the Army Air Corps. He served as an instructor in "Early Air Warning" (radar was a brand new thing) at the 1st Fighter Command School prior to being assigned as part of the 1st Air Combat Control Squadron Amphibious (an experimental group) assigned to the U.S.S. Ancon. "The Mighty A" was the first and only communication ship of its kind then. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters which included the operations of North Africa (including the Sicily invasion), Salerno, and the invasion of Normandy (D-Day), the Liberation of the Philippines (including Leyte and Luzon), and spent time in Japan. He was a member of the U.S.S. Ancon Association attending numerous reunions with Nadine. Vince attended the commissioning ceremony for the U.S.S Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, was an Honorary Crew Member of the U.S.S. Springfield submarine and took a VIP Cruise with his daughter Carole and grandchildren James and Amy. He was a member of American Legion Post 32. Vince's love of baseball led to his coaching boys in Khoury League and the American Legion League as well as Khoury League's Farm Supply girl's softball team for his daughters Carole and Kathy. Vince graduated from Cathedral Boys High School playing on both the football and basketball teams. His father asked him to help with a school event while he was home on leave during WWII and that began over 60 years of helping with Cathedral/Griffin/SHG High School football, basketball, baseball, Bingo, Golden Gloves, Mostaccioli Dinners, City Basketball Tournaments, and the Illinois High School Association's State Baseball Tournaments. He and Nadine chaperoned bus trips, sometimes transported cheerleaders and players, and were always willing to pick up game films or special football shoes when needed. He is a Charter Member of the SHG Hall of Fame and along with Nadine was inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame's Friends of Sports in 2003. While football was his love, he was always ready to cheer on the Cyclones or Blazers especially when his grandchildren were on the volleyball, tennis, swim, soccer and cross country teams. Vince and Nadine loved numerous trips in their truck and camper. Their initial trip was in 1967 to Alaska when the Alaskan Highway was under construction. They repeated the trip in 1969 and followed with trips to the Panama Canal, Newfoundland and the 1976 Montreal Olympics. His other interests included deer hunting with an incredible group of friends, getting together with the "Old Timers" from the Post Office to play cards and assemble the NIXIE newsletter, and visiting with breakfast friends made over the years. Vince was a faithful member of Blessed Sacrament Church. Memorials to his life and service may be made to the Vince Moore Memorial Fund at Sacred Heart Griffin High School, 1200 W. Washington, Springfield, IL 62702 or to a charity of your choice. Family will receive friends from 4:30 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. A prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut St., Springfield with Rev. David J. Hoefler celebrant. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.