George K. Mosser, who carried out not only the fine traditions of a philanthropic and socially minded family, but enriched those traditions for the generation that continues to follow in his footsteps with love and esteem, died in the Sacred Heart hospital in Allentown on November 22. 1938.

His long career in business and industry included many years in the tanning business that was founded in the early part of the nineteenth century by his grandfather, Jacob Mosser; a long association with the Lehigh Brick Company which he founded and with the Lehigh Portland Cement Company which he served as a director; and a career in banking as chairman of the board of the Lehigh Valley Trust Company.

Scion of two of Lehigh county's oldest and most distinguished families, he was born December 7, 1862 in the old Mosser mansion at the rear of the tannery in East Allentown, the son of James Kistler Mosser and Marie, nee Keck, Mosser. As a boy he attended a private school in Dansville, N. Y., the public schools of Allentown, and Muhlenberg College.

Early in life, Mr. Mosser became associated with his father in the tanning business and continued in that work until 1915 when the family sold its interests to the Armour Company. A few years later he organized the Lehigh Brick Company and remained active in it until the time of his death.

In 1884 Mr. Mosser and his two brothers, Jacob and Henry, became members of the firm of James K. Mosser and Company, an organization that had large tanneries in East Allentown and in Noxen and that traced its origin to the tannery Mr. Mosser's grandfather established near Trexlertown shortly alter the turn of the 19th century. Mr. Mosser became secretary and treasurer of the company.

As a member of the firm, he became acquainted with the details of the treatment and tanning of hides for wholesale markets. Prominent in these operations were shipments of large quantities of bark from the interior forests of Pennsylvania, bark that was ground fine and used in the tanning processes. Hundreds of carloads of bark were unloaded monthly at the Allentown Tannery and the huge sheds adjoining the plant were stocked to capacity.

After gaining complete mastery of the Allentown plant, Mr. Mosser moved to Noxen in Wyoming county, on May 12, 1896 to assume control of that tannery. He remained there, operating the tannery, until the family retired from the business with its sale to the Armour interests.

At the death of his father in 1900, Mr. Mosser became a member of the directorate of the Lehigh Portland Cement company which his father had assisted in organizing. At the same time, he succeeded his father as a member of the board of the Lehigh Valley Trust Company. At the death of Col. E. M. Young, president of the Bank, Mr. Mosser was named to the newly created post of Chairman of the Board, a position he held from 1932 until his death.

When he returned to his native Lehigh county in 1915, Mr. Mosser built the beautiful residence at Trexlertown that continued to be his borne until he died.

When the United States entered the World War, the Federal government quickly enlisted Mr. Mosser's services and he served as food administrator for Leliigh county. He filled the post with distinction and satisfaction for the duration of the war.

Philanthropically minded, as were his ancestors, Mr. Mosser was keenly interested in many welfare and cultural movements in Allentown. He succeeded his father as a member of the board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College and served that institution faithfully, for many years as a member of its policy-shaping executive committee. Not only did he serve the organizations in which he was interested, but he gave liberally toward all worthy enterprises. So unostentatious were his gifts that few were ever aware of his benefactions.

From the time the Allentown Community Chest was organized, he was one of its most active supporters and served on the board of directors. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Sacred Heart hospital and one of its generous friends. Other organizations that claimed his active interest were the American Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. and the Muhlenberg College Auxiliary which his wife served as president for many years.

He was a lifelong and faithful member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church on Smith Fifth Street where the Mosser family worshipped from Civil War days. After moving to his palatial home near Trexlertown he frequently attended services in St. Paul's Lutheran church in that community.

He was one of the oldest members of the Livingston club and fraternally was affiliated with Jordan Lodge, F. and A. M. and the Lehigh Consistory.

Mr. Mosser was married to Ida Hausman, a member of one of Allentown's oldest families. Mrs. Mosser, who shared many of her husband's interests, died on February 15, 1934.

The couple were the parents of three children, Frederick, who died in 1918; Robert K., who was associated with his father in many of his business enterprises and who resided with him at Trexlertown; and Mary F., wife of Dewey Fuller, of Allentown.

Through his long and active life, Mr. Mosser embodied the highest ideals in citizenship and in religion, combining both in a manner that made him one of the community's best-loved and most useful citizens.