Jack Denis Moats, 94, of Auburn, IN, died at Parkview North Hospital October 22, 2011. Jack was born in Garrett, IN on July 7, 1917, the son of Forrest H. and Georgia Marie (Snyder) Moats. He graduated from Garrett High School in 1935, where he excelled in both football and basketball, to join the Navy, where he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga as a Water Tender. He was discharged in 1939 and began his career on the B&O Railroad as a fireman. He answered the call to again serve his country in 1941, when he reported to duty in Norfolk, VA aboard the USS WestPoint. The WestPoint was being converted from a luxury liner to a troop transport and Jack was part of the crew that put the ship into commission. He served on the WestPoint from 1941 - 1945, carrying troops and even nurses to both the European and Asian theatres of war. Jack married his hometown sweetheart, Ferne Zimmerman on June 25, 1944, in Garrett, before returning to service on the WestPoint until the war ended in 1945, achieving the rate/rank of Chief Water Tender. The ship was in Singapore during the Japanese bombing and miraculously escaped, unscathed, transporting the British civilians who lived there to safety. He had many interesting tales to tell of his time aboard the WestPoint. Following the war, Jack returned to work on the B&O where he retired as an engineer in 1982. He is one of the last, if not the last; of a group of B&O railroad engineers that made the transition from steam engines to diesels. He was selected, shortly before his retirement, to engineer a renovated steam engine, which was headed east on a tour, from Chicago to Garrett. Also a licensed embalmer, Jack assisted his brother in law, Forrest Zimmerman, at the Zimmerman Funeral Home in Garrett. Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Lodge, the American Legion, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Garrett Alumni Association. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Auburn. He enjoyed playing golf, until losing his sight, Garrett athletics, and IU football and basketball. Jack was one of IU play by play announcer Don Fischer's biggest fans. He also loved to attend his ship's reunions. He and Ferne were able to attend most of them from 1971 - 2010 and established many wonderful friendships. A defining moment was when he was able to attend the long overdue WWII Memorial, while attending a reunion at Arlington, VA in 2005. He also cherished a ride in the steam engine on the Sugar Line Railroad, which was a logging railroad in Yosemite National Park, in 2008, as well as, a trip up Pike's Peak with his family in 2006. He was a true patriot and a wonderful husband and father. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gwen Steigmeyer and Jeanette Balthazar. Jack is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ferne, a son John of Auburn, a daughter and son in law, Margaret and Jay Hall of Raleigh, NC and one granddaughter, Megan Hall, also of Raleigh. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Thomas Funeral Home in Garrett. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm. The funeral service will be officiated by Rev. Wilbur Yates, at the funeral home, on Thursday at 11am. A military graveside service will follow at Christian Union Cemetery. Memorials should be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Auburn or to the organization of the donor's choice.