John Moon, 94, chocolate company executive, leader in his church

John M. Moon, 94, of Rosemont, a chocolate-company executive, churchman, sailor, and motorcyclist into his 80s, died Friday, July 3, at his home of causes due to aging.

His life centered on service to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and successive careers at Whitman's Chocolates and Godiva Chocolatier.

A cheerful presence, Mr. Moon, known as "Jack," was loved by family and neighbors, churchgoers, and the merchants with whom he did business. "His sense of humor in regaling hilarious stories was contagious to all around him," his family said in a tribute.

The son of Edward R. and Elizabeth Martin Moon, he was reared in Bala Cynwyd and graduated from Friends Select School in 1938. He graduated from Haverford College in 1943.

During his senior year at Haverford, Mr. Moon had to wrestle with his conscience about whether to join the armed forces fighting in World War II.

His father was a Quaker, and his mother a Presbyterian. Many Quaker classmates and cousins chose conscientious-objector status and alternative service, but as information emerged about the Holocaust, Mr. Moon felt morally obligated to enlist.

Breaking the family's stride after 10 generations of Quaker ancestry in America, Mr. Moon joined Bryn Mawr Presbyterian and left for Army basic training.

Once in Europe, the 6-foot-2 private was chosen for the combat military police. He served in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany.

After returning from the war, he landed a job at Whitman's, eventually becoming plant manager. In that role, he established an equal-pay policy for women supervisors, and in the 1950s promoted the first African American to a noncustodial position.

Mr. Moon married Lois Coulbourn and settled in Rosemont, where the couple had three children. After her death in 1970, he devoted himself to raising the children and to his career and church work.

He spent the last 15 years of his work life saving the then-beleaguered American branch of Belgium's Godiva Chocolatier; its owner, Campbell Soup Co., had vowed to close the branch if no way could be found to stop its losses.

Mr. Moon, a vice president, turned a profit the first year by updating equipment and initiating a boutique store model around the country.

"Jack said it was easy for him, after having used more- modern equipment at Whitman's," his family said. Naturally, his case was not hurt by including friends and family in chocolate-tasting sessions for new Godiva candies.

Service to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian was central to Mr. Moon's life for 72 years. He served as deacon and elder, and later as clerk of session.

He was an enthusiastic sailor on Barnegat Bay until age 82. He liked to say that he felt the "glory of God on the face of the waters" as he sailed.

He also loved riding a motorcycle 10,000 miles a year in retirement - from Chester County to vacations in New England. His last ride was at age 84.

He is survived by a daughter, Catherine Moon Stalberg; sons Edward R. II and David M.; six grandchildren; and his longtime friend, Helen B. Dennis.

A meeting for worship marking his memory is to be at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Haverford Friends Meeting, 855 Buck Lane. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Burial was private.

Donations may be made to the John M. Moon Hymnal Fund at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010.

610-313-8102