Herbert Watson Moon

Mr. Herbert Watson Moon, Jr., 95, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, October 14, at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Funeral services are planned for 11:00 AM on Friday, October 17, at Central Baptist Church, with Dr. Bryan Myers and Rev. Hugh DeLoach officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Chuck Reeves, Chan Reeves, Charles Ray Sheffield, Bob Woodcock, Jimmy Lynch, Danny Moon, Caleb Shewman, Rick Davis, & Jerry Norris. Members of the Melvin York Sunday School Class of Central Baptist Church are asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 16, between the hours of 4:00 and 6:30 PM at the home of Ruth & Wendall Sanders, 120 Old Stage Road, Andersonville. A native and lifelong resident of Americus, Mr. Moon was born March 3, 1919, a son of the late Herbert Watson Moon, Sr. and Ruth Britton Moon. A United States veteran of World War II, Mr. Moon was an Army medic during the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Having helped to set up Army hospitals around bomber bases in northern England, he received notice in 1943 calling for medical volunteers for combat duty as medics working in the field. After completing combat training, the newly formed 2nd Medical Combat Unit joined with the 29th Infantry Division. Mr. Moon was the staff sergeant in charge of his medical unit. At 25 years old, he was the oldest of the group, affectionately called "Grandpa". The medical units, in existence for only 2 weeks, lost 92 of the initial 100 volunteers. By the end of the war, only 3 or 4 of the 8 surviving soldiers would remained unwounded in battle. He was very active in Central Baptist Church, where he was the longest standing member. He was a member of the Melvin York Sunday School Class, and was still in charge of the counting committee at the Church at the time of his death. Mr. Moon retired in 1984 as a conductor for the Seaboard Railroad, and after retirement, he worked as a newspaper carrier for the Americus Times-Recorder, a court bailiff at the Sumter County Courthouse, and 14 years as a dispatcher at Reeves Construction Company. Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Mrs. Frances Owens Moon; 3 children: Kay Moon Reeves (Charles), Jack Britton Moon (Karen), and Ruth Moon Sanders (Wendall); 10 grandchildren: Rita Reeves Sheffield (Charles Ray), Chuck Reeves (Dolly), Chan Reeves (Carol), Wendy Sanders Woodcock (Bob), Carey Sanders Lynch (Jimmy), Danny Moon, Dawn Moon Baldridge (Frank), Kelly Moon Shewman (Caleb), Tina Shepherd Kingston, & Rick Shepherd; 22 great-grandchildren: Ann Elizabeth Reeves, Chase Reeves, Charles Sheffield, Reeves Sheffield, Frances Kay Sheffield, Chanley Reeves, Riley Reeves, Taylor Reeves, Carlton Woodcock, Carey Woodcock, Tripp Lynch, Sarah Lane Lynch, Skyler Moon, Danny Moon, Marisa Baldridge, Storm Baldridge, Aiden Baldridge, Keillie Parker, Andrew Kingston, Christopher Kingston, Cameron Shepherd, & Brendon Barber; one sister, Katron Moon; and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Nancy Ruth Rushin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Central Baptist Church, 190 Upper River Rd., Americus, GA 31709 or to the League of the Good Samaritan, c/o Magnolia Manor, 2001 S. Lee St., Americus, GA 31709. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mr. Herbert Watson Moon, Jr.