Attorney W. D. Moon Jr. passed away on August 27, 2022, at his home in Chattanooga Tennessee. He was born at West Ellis Hospital on the morning of March 26, 1925, in Chattanooga, and grew up on Signal Mountain where he was known as “Buddy”. He was a graduate of the Bright School, Baylor School, and Vanderbilt Law School.
He was the grandson of E.Y. and Elise Hutcheson Chapin and Congressman John Austin and Adeline Deaderick Moon. He was the son of Elise Chapin and William Deaderick Moon.
He was preceded in death by his beloved sisters Mildred Moon Montague and Adeline Moon Hersey and his daughter Mary Moon Ballard.
He is survived by his wife and childhood sweetheart, Janet Patten Moon and three sons: John Deaderick Moon (Clare), Shannon Gamble Moon (Sky) and Shelby Zahnd Moon (Colleen). He has 11 grandchildren: John Austin Moon, Isaac Moon, Julia Moon, Anderson Moon, Elias Moon, Silas Moon, Charlotte Moon, Joseph Moon, Orianna Moon, Penelope Moon and Oakley Moon. He has 1 great grandchild, Adrian Moon.
He was a Christian and a member of 1st Presbyterian Church where he was “driven by his mother every Sunday along with his two older sisters” and later served as deacon.
He was a patriot. He joined the Army in 1943 and was assigned to A company, 397th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division and was one of the first soldiers to receive the expert infantry badge. He was wounded in the Voges Mountains near Baccarat, France and received two Bronze Stars, The French Legion of Honor (he was kissed on both cheeks by the French Ambassador), and the Purple Heart.
He was a good father. He loved spending time with his children and delighted in their diversity. He attended their ball games (acted as coach for Shelby’s team) and took them camping, taught them to hunt and fish, and provided them with the tools for success and happiness.
He was a good lawyer and citizen. He passed his Tennessee Bar Exam before graduation from Vanderbilt law school and began his practice in 1950. He worked for the Kennedy and Johnson campaign in 1960 and voted in every eligible election. He won several cases before the Supreme Court of Tennessee during a distinguished career that lasted 58 years.
He loved dogs, limericks, and old tunes to whistle; he had an unusually well-developed sense of humor. He believed in courage and truth and admired those qualities in others. His favorite poem was “Horatius at the Bridge”, about a lone soldier who defended Rome in the 6th century BC from the Etruscans. He enjoyed a good fire and spent many happy times at “the cabin” where he cooked hot dogs and entertained friends and family with wonderful stories about the history of Chattanooga and the law.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 31st from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church. There will be a memorial service at the church on Wednesday August 31st at 1:00 pm. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to your favorite charitable organization.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
