COLUMBUS
Gary Dennis Moats, 68, passed away at 1:07 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at Columbus Regional Hospital. Dennis was born on October 7, 1950, in Flora, Illinois, to Charles Clark and Frances (Raley) Moats. He grew up in southern Illinois and Evansville, Indiana. Dennis graduated from William Henry Harrison High School in 1968 and Indiana State University in 1972 majoring in music.
On December 16, 1972, he married Virginia Ross in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dennis taught band in Rockville and Edinburgh. He was the Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director for almost 25 years, retiring in 2015.
Dennis and Virginia traveled extensively to many places such as Alaska, Arizona, New England and Yellowstone. Last year they visited Quito, Ecuador, followed by a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. They also enjoyed visiting wineries where they traveled. He spent many hours listening to classical music and watching movies from his vast collection.
He was a long-time volunteer for the Red Cross and Red Cross Disaster Services and a two-time recipient of the Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Award. As a Red Cross instructor and instructor-trainer, Dennis taught hundreds of First Aid, CPR and Instructor classes.
Dennis was the Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 560 and has been a Committee Member and Merit Badge Counselor for Boy Scout Troop 557 for 30 years. He was a 33-year member of Columbus Elks Lodge #521.
An accomplished pianist and organist, he often played for church services and friends’ weddings in his younger years. Dennis was also an excellent photographer, always coming home from their travels with hundreds of photos.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Virginia; sons, Charles Robert “Bob” Moats and wife, Beth, and Matthew Dennis Moats and wife, Michelle; and a grandson, Clark William Moats, all of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Curtis Alan Moats.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2019, at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Endowment Fund of Hoosier Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America.
You are invited to view his video tribute, light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the internet. Information: www.jewellrittman.com.
