Robert E. Moody ’68

Robert Earl Moody, 71, of Gadsden, Alabama passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018. Bob was born in Camden, Maine on September 18, 1946.

He graduated from Camden High School where he played trumpet in the band and won the Junior class speech medal. He attended Maine Maritime Academy from 1964-1968, where he was the drum major for the band, and upon graduation he earned his United States Coast Guard merchant marine engineering license and Navy commission. Bob studied engineering and Health Physics at the University of Michigan Graduate School.

He started in the nuclear power area in 1969 as a reactor operator/health physics and water chemistry technician on the Nuclear Powered ship Savannah. Bob spent 42 years in the nuclear industry in various capacities from the commercial nuclear industry to government regulation. He visited over 50 US nuclear power plants and three international plants while with Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Bob retired from the NRC in 2011 and moved to his wife’s childhood home of Gadsden, Alabama.

Bob was an avid golfer and the home in Gadsden on the number 6 green of the Gadsden Country Club was a perfect fit. He played golf regularly with his friends and was a member of the Alabama 60+ Golf Association. He won the Julius Fargus Trophy for the best score at the Alabama 60+ annual tournament in Waynesville, NC. in 2015.

Bob loved to travel with his wife and friends, and they were always on a trip both in the US and internationally. His favorite trips were cruises because he loved ships. Bob was good at recalling trivia and loved playing it on cruises with friends. He was very good at music trivia because he could name most of the titles and artists of any 50’s and 60’s song. He and his family were frequent visitors to Walt Disney World and he always enjoyed seeing the smiles on the children’s faces, and seeing his favorite character – Snow White.

Bob found woodworking relaxing and fulfilling and built many items for schools and church fundraising fairs with his son and other volunteers. Throughout his life, he could always be found fixing something.

Bob made friends easily at work and at play. He considered friendship one of the most important values in life. He will always be remembered for his giving back, teaching, coaching, and mentoring. Bob believed what Winston Churchill said: ” We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gadsden, Alabama 60+ Golf Association, The American Nuclear Society, and former President and member of the Board of Directors of the NS Savannah Association.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 33 years, Christine (Christie) Marie Adams Moody; his beloved son, David Adams Moody; sister, Ruth Ann Allen; and brothers, Roger A. Moody, Richard J. Moody, Raymond H. Moody, and Ronald E. Moody.

A funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Gadsden on Friday, March 9, 2018 with a visitation in the sanctuary starting at 1pm and the service at 2pm. Burial will be at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden with a short graveside service following the church service. To respect his wishes, the family requests no flowers and that donations be made to the Music Fund at First United Methodist Church of Gadsden, 115 South Fifth Street, Gadsden, AL 35901.