Jack Kenneth Moore

Jack K. Moore, 94, passed away Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis, NC.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Center United Methodist Church with The Reverend Tony Allen officiating. Burial will take place in the Center Methodist Church Cemetery following the service. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 12 Noon to 1:00 pm.

Mr. Moore was born in Concord on June 8, 1924 to the late Quincy and Wilma Moore.

Mr. Moore served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific and Mediterranean/African Theaters during WWII and in China subsequent to the war. In the Pacific theater, he served as a Navy Frogman, most memorably in missions essential to the successful invasion of Okinawa. He retired from the Navy at the rank of Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class.

He joined the Cabarrus Country Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff in 1947 shortly after leaving military service and in 1950 joined the Concord Police Department as a patrolman. In 1952 he became the Department’s first officer in a newly created Detectives’ Division and remained there until 1969 when he left at the rank of Detective Captain to become the Deputy Chief of Police.

He was named Concord’s Chief of Police in 1975 and served until 1987. During his tenure, the Department substantially expanded in size and experienced other transformational changes, including the hiring of the first female police officers, the appointment of the first African-American detective, and the opening of the first community policing sub-station. Until his death, he was affectionately known to many in Concord as “Chief.” After his retirement, he was active in the NC Retired Peace Officers Association.

He was a longtime member of Center United Methodist Church in Concord and also was active in the Concord First Assembly senior adult ministry and the Cabarrus County Lunch Plus Club. He was a member of Stokes Masonic Lodge 54 and the Rotary Club. He was an avid supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County and an honorary lifetime member of its Board of Directors.

Mr. Moore was an enthusiastic traveler until his health prevented it. He found particular pleasure in revisiting countries - including China, India, and Brazil - which he had first seen during his youth in WWII.

Mr. Moore was preceded in death by his wife, Verla Kindley Moore, who passed away in 1985; daughter, Shari Toni Cline; sister, Helen Ritchie; and brother, Leon Moore.

He is survived by a special friend, Doris Cobert of Concord; daughter, Lee Grohse and son-in-law, Peter Grohse of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Kathy Lanita John and son-in-law, Kenneth John of Arlington, VA; grandchildren, Jessica Morris of Kingstree, SC, Ian Grohse of Tromso, Norway, and Jack Grohse of Raleigh, NC; and, two great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cabarrus County Boys and Girls Club at 247 Spring St NW, Concord, NC 28025, or online at http://www.bgclubcab.org, or to Center Methodist Church at 1119 Union St S, Concord, NC 28025.