Jun 26, 1906 - Oct 22, 1970
Versailles, MO
Charles W. Thoss (1906-1970)
From Joan Thoss:
My Dad was a wonderful person. Just like a tough coach, demanding excellence of himself and others. He was a public school teacher and an associate Baptist pastor.
Born June 26, 1906, he grew up on a farm in Missouri, about 40 miles west of Jefferson City. He worked his way through school at Warrensburg Teacher's College. We lived in Warrensburg so he could further his education. He later earned his Master's Degree at Washington University, St. Louis.
When I was 5 or 6 I worked with my dad to build our house in Versailles, Missouri. That was a very happy time to remember. When Dad retired from teaching, my parents moved back to Versailles.
During the depression he taught in one-room schools. I went to the First Grade there and my Dad was the teacher. The school in Florence, Missouri was next. My dad taught in the high school. Then he taught high school in Smithton. He also coached the basketball team in Smithton.
In 1943 Dad received an offer to teach at Wellston High School. He loved that school, and treated the students as if they were his children. He expected them to do the best they could, and helped them to accomplish that goal. Of course, he would slip in teaching the students about morality, and inspirational quotations. Many of them told me, they remember his personal interest in them.
He was also on the Board of the Missouri Baptist Children's Home. He loved that service and loved the Children's Home. He helped several of the graduates after they left the home.
He loved his grandson and taught him things that my husband and I never could have.
He died at the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Versailles, MO, preaching a sermon. I think he would have been pleased at that. It was October 22, 1970 when he died I was amazed at the loving and appreciative response from his old students -- and for the first time, I guess, I really appreciated all he positive things he had done in his life.
Joan (Thoss) Stoyanoff Class of 1949 Wellston High School, St. Louis Co., MO
More here: http://thelivinglegend-atributetomyteacher.blogspot.com/
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