William Lee Moore

Celebrating the Life of William L. Moore William was born October 29, 1933 in Colt, Arkansas the eldest son of Anna Johnson as child he lived a short time in St Louis, Missouri before moving to Toledo, Ohio. He attended Toledo Public School and was a 1951 graduate of Jesup W. Scott High school where he played on the basketball team. “Once a Bulldog Always a bulldog”. William was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1956 and went on to work for the US Postal Service. In 1959 he married Louise Moore and together they raised two daughters Anita and Leslie and invented co-parenting when they divorced. After many years with the US Postal Service he decided to follow his entrepreneurial dreams in the early 1970’s and with ten of his close friends all pitching in 1k each they purchased a building on Dorr Street, named it Dorr Hall and provided the community a space for events and concerts. They hosted up and coming artist like George Clinton’s band the Funkadelics and The O’Jays to name a few. A serial entrepreneur he later along with two more friends opened Triad Hall Mall as well as purchasing two beauty schools Miss Ruby’s in downtown Toledo and additional school in Ann Arbor, MI. Always inspired to give back to the black community in Toledo he was an active Mason and Shriner. A member of Mecca Temple 43 and Amazon Lodge #4. As well as an active member of St Paul Baptist Church under the guidance of Rev. John H. McKissick. William was the original Girl Dad, he was engaged in thought, word and deed. Encouraging his girls to be strong and independent. He was that Dad driving a car full of girls to Olander Park to swim, Cedar Point to ride every roller coaster, of course the mall for shopping. He introduced his girls to fine dining, his favorite classical composer Richard Wager, Chopin, and Mozart. And his loved for jazz Coltrane, Charles Parker and Roberta Flack. He also loved to teach them Black history and all the accomplishments of our ancestors. The love of travel to see the wonders of the world. He was always calm, friendly and always willing to help others. He went on to marry again and share a life with Georgia during semi-retirement. He is preceded in death by his mother Anna Johnson and sister Mary Christine Grier, his daughter Anita Moore Ellis and his second wife Georgia. He leaves to cherish his memory with his daughter Leslie Moore, his grandkids Maya Ellis, Elan Lewis, Omarah Lewis, Quintin Ellis, Raelynn Palmer and his great-grandson Aiden Ellis, and his brother Paul Haire along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close family friends. He will be truly missed, but his legacy and laughter for a great joke lives on forever in our hearts.

William Lee Moore

October 29, 1933 - March 21, 2026