Wallace "Wally" Wade Moon

Wallace Wade “Wally” Moon was born in Bay, Arkansas, April 3, 1930 and departed to his heavenly home on February 9, 2018. Wally was the lovingly devoted husband of Bettye Lewis Knowles Moon for over 64 years before her passing. Pop as he was called by his children and grandchildren is survived by son Wally Joe Moon (Susan Roberson) and daughters Zola Moon, Elizabeth Moon Ross (Bob), Mary Scherrer (John), and LaRhesa Moon. Also surviving are grandchildren Brad Baker (Jennifer), Cameron Moon, Karen Moon Ross, Joshua Pollock (Paulina), Grace Lyles (Tripp and great-grandaughter Hayley), Christine Scherrer, Samantha Scherrer. He is survived by a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins on the Moon side of his family.

Wally was born to the late H.A. “Bert” and Margie Moon and pre-deceased by older brother Wayne and younger sister Loretta. Wally attended Texas A&M University where he played basketball and baseball for the Aggies before signing a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of his junior year. He played minor league baseball in the summers while continuing his education, graduating from A&M as a proud member of the Class of 1951 and received a Masters’ degree from A&M in 1952. That made him the first major league baseball player to start his career with a Masters’ degree in hand. Named 1954 National League Rookie-of-the-Year, Moon went on to a 5-year career with the Cardinals before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he played an additional 7 years. Twice named to the NL All-Star teams and a Gold Glove winner, Moon also won 3 World Series titles with the Dodgers in 1959, 1963, and 1965.

Following his playing retirement, Moon became Athletic Director and Baseball Coach at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, for 10 years (with one year out to serve as hitting coach for the San Diego Padres) before purchasing the San Antonio Dodgers in the AA Texas League. Wally returned to baseball working in the minor leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles as a manager and roving hitting instructor. Wally spent his final retirement in Bryan, Texas, his wife’s hometown and adjacent to his beloved Texas A&M. He spent many years on the golf course, afield hunting and fishing with dear friends, writing his memoirs, and remained active in the life of First United Methodist of Bryan until his passing. He leaves behind innumerable friends and acquaintances.

A public visitation is planned for Friday, February 16, 2018, from 4 until 7 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel, 1515 South College Avenue, Bryan, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Bryan, 506 E 28th Street, Bryan, Texas. Private family burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Wally and Bettye Moon Future Teachers Educational Scholarship Fund at Prosperity Bank, ATTN. Jessica Howard, 2807 South Texas Ave. Bryan, Texas 77802-5326, or the charity of your choice in the name of Wally Moon. Wally’s 87 years of life were filled with love, family, happiness, baseball and his Methodist faith. The outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and fans has been much appreciated by the Moon family during this grieving time.