Joseph Mow age 83 died on December 4, 2009 at Holbrook's Nursing Home in Buckhannon. He was born July 10, 1926 in Mussoorie, India, the son of Baxter and Anna Beahm Mow, who served as missionaries in that country. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Mow of Buckhannon, whom he married on December 20, 1953, and three children: Peggy Lombardo of Albany, NY and her children, Tony and Krista Lombardo; Carolyn Mow, her husband Phil Pardi and Son Emilio of Phoenicia, NY; and Andrew Mow, his wife Deborah and their children Benjamin and Rachel Mow of Granite Falls, Washington. Also surviving are his sister, Lois Snavely of Loris, SC, and his sister-in-law, Kathy Mow in Farmington, PA. He was preceded in death by his brother, Merrill Mow. Joe attended Woodstock School in India and John Marshall High School in Chicago. He was graduated from Manchester College in Indiana with a B.A., then studied at Bethany Biblical Seminary in Chicago and the University of Chicago, where he earned a B.D. and a Ph.D..He studied at Oxford University during a sabbatical in 1971-72. Post World War II, Joe worked with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Brethren Service Unit in China expediting relief shipments into the interior and teaching Chinese farmers how to run tractors. He then went to Europe to work with the resettlement of war refugees. Later he became Associate Director for Immigration Services of Church World Service in New York City. From 1958-1961, Joe was the pastor of the First Church of Deerfield, MA. He and his family came to Buckhannon in 1963 where he taught in the Department of Philosophy of West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he served at the Department Chair until his retirement in 1988. Joe was a member of the West Virginia State Ethics program Planning Committee, The West Virginia Philosophy Society, the Philosophical Association, and the American Society for Christian Ethics. He served as Chairman of the American Academy of Religion section of Society for Philosophy of Creativity. Joe was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a member of the First Congregational Church in Marietta, Ohio, as well as the Southeast Ohio Association of the denomination. He was a member of the Buckhannon Rotary Club for 46 years, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He volunteered for the Buckhannon River Habitat for Humanity. Following retirement, he and his wife traveled to Nicaragua, China, India and Europe. His hobbies included playing the violin, woodworking, sailing and reading. At his request, Joe will be cremated and his ashes buried in the foothills of the Himalayas near the Woodstock School. A memorial service was held at the chapel at West Virginia Wesleyan College on Monday, December 7th at 4:00 pm.
Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.