Charles E. Moreland

Tupelo - Charles Elgan Moreland, 87, died Sunday, June 8, 2008, at The Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford after an extended illness. A native of Amory, he was born May 29, 1921 to Archie and Ella Roberts Moreland. He attended Belden High School, but chose to join the U.S. Navy during World War II instead of graduating. He served in the Pacific Theater as well as in the Philippines, earning the Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Philippines Liberation Medal. After his discharge from the US Navy Aviation, he was employed with Tupelo Ford dealers for 34 years as the manager of the auto body shop. He and his employees were known to be among the most professional auto body repairmen in the automobile business. He had a great love for music and among his favorites were Luciano Pavarotti, Tupelo Community Concerts, Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, the Three Tenors, and The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. He also enjoyed sports including The Atlanta Braves, The Dallas Cowboys, and the winter and summer Olympic games.

He was a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church where he served as a lay minister, elder, deacon, treasurer, Sabbath School teacher, and Sabbath School superintendent.

His greatest joy came from his church work, spending time with his chosen grandchildren, pleasing his customers at the Ford dealerships, and traveling the United States and Canada, especially The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Elder Charles Woods and The Rev. Father Henry Shelton officiating. GySgt. Gary Crocker, USMC, Ret. will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Faye Witt Moreland, of Tupelo; his chosen children and grandchildren, GySgt. Gary Crocker, USMC, Ret., and his family of Columbia, S.C. and Williamsburg, Va.; one sister, Mozelle Couch, of Memphis, Tenn; two brothers, Archie Moreland of Tupelo and Bill Moreland of Upland, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dewey Moreland; two sisters, Nell Ferguson and Bonnie Harrison.

The staff of Metro Ford will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to The National Parkinson's Disease Foundation, in care of Dr. Ron Richardson, 20 Quail Creek Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801.