Alfred Raymond Mosher
December 23, 1921 – July 28, 2016
Alfred Raymond Mosher died in Colorado Springs on July 28, 2016. He had been a resident of the city since October 1977.
He was born in Adrian, Missouri on December 23, 1921. His father and mother were Frank Elmer Mosher and Ella Mae (King) Mosher. He had two brothers, Stanley King Mosher and Lloyd Gene Mosher. He grew up in Richland, Washington where he graduated from high school in 1939. He later obtained a business administration degree from Colorado University – Boulder.
He enlisted in the United States Navy on March 8, 1940 in Portland, Oregon and went through boot camp and received hospital corps training in San Diego, California. He was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bremerton, Washington, where he married Gloria Ruth Smith of Walla Walla, Washington. They had one daughter, Sydney Marie Peek.
In early 1941 he was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, M.I., where he was captured by the Japanese army when it invaded the island on December 10, 1941. In January 1942 the American prisoners of war captured on Guam were transferred to a camp at Zentsiyi, Japan. In May 1942 Alfred and other American prisoners of war were transferred to a camp on the waterfront in Osaka, Japan, where they worked as stevedores on ships, trains, and docks. On June 1, 1945, their camp, Osaka #1, was burned down during an incendiary bomb raid by American B-29 bombers. Alfred, along with a few other American POWs were taken by train to another camp, Fusiki, where they remained until the war ended. Only three communications were received from him during his imprisonment. The last letter was received in August of 1945 and had been written in January of that year. But perhaps the best communication was the telegram he sent home to his wife, Gloria, that said, “Am well and will see you soon.” Alfred returned to the United States shortly after September 1, 1945.
Alfred and Gloria divorced in August 1946, and Alfred decided to remain in the U.S. Navy and reenlisted in June 1949. Alfred married Elizabeth Lager Hoffman in Inverness, Florida on August 3, 1952. They had one daughter, Margaret Emily, who was born April 1955, in Yokosuka, Japan. She died five days before her second birthday in Chicago, Illinois. Elizabeth and Alfred moved to Colorado Springs for the first time in 1957. Alfred and Elizabeth returned to Colorado Springs to retire in the fall of 1977. Elizabeth passed away on August 26, 1988 after a 4 year illness.
Alfred and Gloria remarried in Elko, Nevada on June 10, 1992. They lived in Colorado Springs until Gloria passed away on June 19, 2006 from a 3 year illness.
He was previously an active member of Ascension Lutheran Church and performed volunteer bookkeeping for numerous charitable organizations. He was a generous donor of his time and financial resources.
He is survived by his daughter, Sydney Marie Peek; his step-children: Stephen L. Allen, John S. Hagen, Jr., Constance J. Sylvia, and Hollee H. Weethee; one grandson, Lindar Dale Peek; six step-grandchildren; three step-great-granddaughters; a niece, Amy Mosher; and two nephews, Greg and Rodney Mosher.
A funeral service with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. A reception will follow at the Eastside Eagles, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1830 North Academy Boulevard, #A, Colorado Springs. Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo, Illinois.
Memorials in Alfred’s name may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Silver Key Senior Services.