Regina Bernice Barton Moon

Regina Bernice Barton Moon, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away at home on January 20, 2025, after a brief illness. She had just celebrated her 95th birthday.

Born in Lyons, New York on January 18, 1930, to Anne Elizabeth Simolo Barton and Archibald Fisher Barton, Regina spent the first ten years of her life on the Barton Homestead, a wheat farm just outside of Clyde, N.Y., a tiny village along the Erie Canal in Central New York State. Called “Regina”, “Gina”, or “Jean”, Regina spent her early childhood on the farm, enjoying her pet lamb “Nanny”, her unruly pony “Misty”, various barn cats and family dogs although, sadly, there were few children to play with, living in the countryside. She often shared her memories of sitting in the strawberry patch, picking and eating strawberries off the vine, running to and from the outhouse in the cold, breaking the ice in the basin and pitcher in her bedroom as she readied for school in the wintertime, and watching the weekly gatherings in the “ballroom” where her father played the fiddle and her grandfather accompanied him on the piano, while the neighbors danced. Regina walked the rolling hills for a couple of miles each day to attend the same one room schoolhouse that her father had attended. When it snowed, drifts often formed between the hills, forcing her father to come for her in his snowshoes, and carry her home. Regina also fondly remembered riding to town every Saturday, in the buggy or the sledge, or the Model T, depending on the weather.

At the age of ten, Regina welcomed a baby sister, Patricia Anne Barton Fischette, and shortly after, the farm was sold and the Barton family moved into town. Regina was delighted to meet new friends at her new school. A talented pianist, Regina also played the xylophone in the Clyde Marching Band. She graduated from Clyde Central School, as salutatorian in 1947 and found work as a secretary. She also became reacquainted with her friend’s older brother, Lt. Robert Moon “Bob”, who returned to his Clyde family from service in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. On November 20, 1948, Regina and Bob were wed and set up housekeeping in Newark, N.Y., where Regina’s job was located and where Bob was employed by New York State Electric & Gas (NYSE&G) laying gas lines. At night, Regina drove Bob to and from Rochester, New York as he studied, enabling Bob to complete his B.S. degree in Engineering at the University of Rochester, on the G.I. Bill.

Soon Bob was promoted to NYSE&G management and began a career that relocated the family from Newark, N.Y., to Geneva, N.Y., to Newark, N.Y., to Ithaca, N.Y., to Phelps, N.Y., to Binghamton, N.Y., and to Oneonta, N.Y. Bob and Regina built their first house in Geneva in 1956 and welcomed their firstborn, Deborah Lee, in 1957, shortly after moving in. After the next move to Newark, N.Y. in 1960, Regina gave birth to her second child, Robert Barton.

A talented cook and extraordinary baker of breads, cinnamon rolls, Yule logs, cookies, pies, and cakes, Regina also sewed or knit most of her and her daughter’s clothing. Regina

enjoyed working as a volunteer reading tutor at Immaculate Conception School in Ithaca, NY. She attended obedience classes with the family poodle at Cornell University’s Veterinary School. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Regina was also an accomplished gardener, specializing in roses, and loved to read novels and historical fiction.

A fastidious homemaker, Regina dutifully followed her husband from home to home, setting up housekeeping anew without complaint or disappointment at having to repeatedly relocate. Although shy by nature, she supported Bob at many business-related engagements and traveled with him to conferences across the country. A hesitant swimmer, Regina nevertheless enthusiastically supported Bob’s love of boating and spent many summers with her family aboard the “Regina B” on Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Lake Ontario.

Regina was a loving and generous mother to both her children. In her quiet, modest manner, she provided a warm, nurturing, and stimulating home, always present with a meal or a snack and a hug or a ride. Never one to push or criticize, she was pleased by the academic success of her children. A life-long Roman Catholic, Regina faithfully took her family to weekly Mass, eventually supporting Bob in his conversion to the Catholic Church in the 1980s.

When Bob faced a life-threatening health crisis at 62, Regina changed their lifestyle, providing a heart healthy diet and accompanying Bob on miles and miles of daily walks. Bob lived to the age of 87, largely due to the care and effort of Regina.

Upon the marriage of her children, Regina warmly welcomed Dr. Lawrence J. Jordan III and Wendy McArthur and the entire Jordan and McArthur families into the fold.

Regina was a loving and caring hands-on grandmother to five grandchildren, enjoying holidays, family events, vacations, recitals, and performances. She was elated when her first grandchild Anne presented her with her first great-grandchild, Jase Michael, three years ago. Delighting in all her grandchildren and great grandchild, she was especially pleased that they all are musical in one way or another, echoing her family’s love of music.

In 2007, Regina followed Bob in their final move to Cumming, Georgia, spending the remainder of their retirement with Wendy and Robert and their young family. Regina and Bob enjoyed their life in Cumming, attending family events, recitals, performances, and vacations and enjoying periodic visits from Jordan family members as well. When Bob became ill, Regina diligently nursed him, taking him to innumerable medical and physical therapy appointments, as he progressed from one life threatening diagnosis to another. When Bob became completely blind, Regina read to him at night from the history, biography, and detective books he loved. Always by his side, Regina fearlessly provided hospice care to Bob until he passed away in 2013. Since that time, Regina has enjoyed the warm embrace of her family and her beloved caregiver and “best friend”, Alexandra Rincon, who often brought her young daughter Avril to play with Regina. Regina’s constant, unselfish devotion to her family and friends sustained them.

Regina is survived by her daughter Deborah Moon Jordan (Dr. Lawrence J. Jordan III), her son Robert Barton Moon (Wendy McArthur Moon), grandchildren Anne Jordan McManus (Michael McManus), Lawrence Joseph Jordan IV, Lucy Renee Moon, Zachary Robert Moon, and Margo Ann Moon, great-grandson Jase Michael McManus, and sister Patricia Barton Fischette.

A funeral service will be held at Ingram Funeral Home on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 12p.m.-2 p.m. for Regina’s Cumming family and friends. On April 2, 2025, visiting hours will be held from 4-6 p.m. by Pusateri Funeral Home in Clyde, N.Y. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on April 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Clyde, N.Y. Regina will be interred with her husband Bob at the New York State Veterans Cemetery-Finger Lakes, in Romulus, New York following the Mass.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Clyde N.Y., 14433.