William Thomas-Moore

William "Bill" Thomas-Moore, 70, passed away, Friday, September 16 at the Hospice Center of Charleston, after a long siege of battling cancer. He leaves his beloved partner of eleven years, Diane Scher.

Friends are invited to the Memorial Service, Tuesday, September 20 at 11 AM, First Scots Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston. Reception following. Arrangements are by J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL

He is survived by his daughter Sondra Murrah, granddaughters, Ashley, Kailee, and Gillian of Atlanta; Brother, James Thomas-Moore, Plainfield, IL; and Cousin, David Williams, Akron OH.  Bill was born in Akron (Copley) Ohio, the son of Alfred Thomas-Moore, and Lovey Mae Williams.

He played French horn and trumpet in award-winning Copley High School Band and at Ohio University. He also played the Cello. He worked at Goodyear in Akron, and Kent State University in Ohio. He and his former wife, Rita, raised show dogs, toured and entered many competitions. Their English Setter, "Boo," won "Best in Show" at the Westminster Dog Show. Bill also served as an AKC judge.  He moved to Atlanta, and then to Charleston in 1989.

Bill Thomas-Moore was well known as a professional model shipbuilder and miniaturist for fifty years. He built and restored many historic and modern miniature replicas, including creating the first H. L. Hunley Submarine for the gala launch of the Hunley Commission in 1997. The five foot model is in the Charleston Museum's permanent collection.  Several of his Hunley models are on display at the Warren Lasch Lab's exhibit at the Old Navy Base, North Charleston, and he built a model that was presented to Senator Glenn McConnell in 2000. Bill lectured on history of the Hunley at The Submarine Museum, Oceanographic Institute, Mystic Seaport, the Citadel and many other venues. He was a maritime historian, speaker, and actor in a dozen films, including, The Hunley, The Tempest, The Patriot, Legend of Bagger Vance, In-Crowd, The Notebook, Dear John and several episodes of Army Wives. Currently, his four-foot Hunley model is on exhibit at the national "Mariners Museum" in Newport News, VA.  He also built the eight-foot model of the Queen Anne's Revenge flagship for the QAR Restaurant on Daniel Island.  He has been featured for his work in local magazines and press. Bill and Diane owned and operated Ship Shapes Maritime Gallery on Queen Street and then at Fountain Walk, where they sold nautical antiques and marine art, and worked on shipbuilding commissions and ship restorations in the studio. They also established the Charleston Harbor Society at the Harbour Club. In 2000, Bill and Diane created and performed in their original one act production, "Romancing the Hunley: The story of the Hunley and its brave crew." They toured throughout the South.

Bill, aka, "Doc Moore" has been a member of the Charleston Model Yacht club, sailing his "Dragon" boat.  The group races one class of Soling 1 Meter Yacht sailboats every Wednesday and Sunday at James Island County Park Lake.  Bill, a Welshman by ancestral lineage, has been a member of St. David's Society in Charleston, and founded the Atlanta Celtic Festival. He is also a member of the Nautical Research Guild.