Milford Moore, Sr.

Milford Moore, Sr., age 92, of Newark, DE, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, after a hard-fought battle with Covid-19.

Born in Goldsboro, NC on November 11, 1928, he was a son of the late Mallie and Ida (Atkinson) Moore. Milford’s mother and father died when he was a young child. He then lived with his oldest sister, Leatha. Milford had to quit school in the 3^rd grade to help support his family. He worked on different farms picking cotton and tobacco. In 1947, Milford decided to leave North Carolina to pursue better job opportunities up north in Philadelphia. 

Milford lived in South Philly from 1947-1955. During this time, he held jobs with the post office, dry cleaning store, and helped build the Walt Whitman Bridge. In 1948, Milford was hired as a part time whistle blower with the railroad. He would later become full time and was promoted to Track Inspector and Track Foreman. Milford remained on the railways for 40 years and 8 months, retiring in 1988. Between 1947-1955 he married his first wife, Clara, and they had a daughter, Mildred, who passed away in 2016. Unfortunately, their union ended in divorce. 

Milford, Sr. also lived in West Philadelphia from 1955-1962. During this time, he met his second wife, Ruth Vaughon. Although Ruth already had two children, Donald and Thurgood, he took care of them as if they were his own. Milford and Ruth got married in 1961. They would eventually move to Yorktown in 1962 in North Philadelphia. They had three children, Milford, Jr. (1965), Johnetta (1967), and Nathaniel (1969). They remained married for 22 years, then separated in 1983. Milford lived at his home in Yorktown for 53 years. Due to his declining health, in 2015, he moved to Delaware with his youngest son, Nathaniel and his wife, Stacey.

Although he retired in 1988, Milford continued to stay active by helping his son, Nathaniel, on his hot dog cart and by driving his neighbors and friends on errands. Milford loved boxing. He even tried to be an amateur boxer but got knocked out in the first round, so he quit. Milford loved to eat good food especially at the buffet, like Golden Corral and Old Country. He enjoyed listening to music and watching sports.   

Milford, who had difficulty with his health the last 6 years, always celebrated life. He was a very hard working, strong, and caring person who never gave up on life. He loved the Railroad, Yorktown, and his family. Milford’s legacy will live on in his four sons, one daughter, and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and neighbors.

In addition to his parents, Milford was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Vaughn Moore; daughter, Mildred; three sisters, Leatha, Thelma, and Odessa; and one brother, Emmit. He is survived by his four sons, Thurgood, Donald, Milford, Jr., and Nathaniel; and one daughter, Johnetta.

All services will be held privately.