Joy Wade Moulton

Joy Wade Moulton of Upper Arlington, Ohio died at First Community Village on June 30, 2016. She was born at Oxnard, California on 30 November 1928, to Merle Elwood and Elouise (Morgan) Wade. Raised in Riverside, California, she attended Polytechnic High School where she graduated with honors in 1946, was Associate Editor of the yearbook, and won the Girl's Singles Championship in tennis that year. She graduated with an A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1950 with a major in Physical Education. While there she was President of Panile (sophomore women's honor society), President of the Women's Dormitory Association, Chairman of the Athletic Reception Committee and Secretary of Mortar Board. Other memberships included the Women's Executive Committee, Women's Judicial Committee, Sophomore Vigilantes, Senior Class Council, Prytanean Honor Society, Lambda Pi Delta and Nu Sigma Xi. After teaching a year in the Richmond city schools, Joy received an Amy Holmes Morris fellowship to Wellesley College where she earned a Master of Science degree in 1953, also in Physical Education. On 2 January 1954 in Riverside, Joy married Edward Quentin Moulton of Detroit and Palm Beach, Florida, and the following September they moved to Columbus. From 1954 to 1966 she taught part-time in the Women's Physical Education Department of The Ohio State University. She was active in the Columbus Mortar Board Alumnae Club, serving as President in 1965; Vice-President of the Columbus Wellesley Club; Secretary of the Women's Association of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra 1965-1966; Board of Directors of Crichton Club, 1966. She was appointed a Section Director for the National Society of Mortar Board in 1963, served as an Advisor to the Ohio State University chapter in 1964, and was elected National Treasurer from 1964 to 1970. When her husband became President of the University of South Dakota in 1966, Joy served as chairman of the Campus Beautification Committee. During this period her interest in genealogy and family history began. Upon the family's return to Columbus in 1968, Joy resumed her interest in tennis, wrote a column "Prologue" in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra programs, and attended swimming meets of her four children. Genealogy took on a serious note when, in 1973, the Moulton lineage in North America was completed, and she became a professional genealogist. From February 1975 to September 2003 her column, "Find Your Ancestors" was published in The Columbus Dispatch, appearing weekly for eight years, then monthly until 1991 when it became a bi-monthly column. The Columbus Public Library has a copy of all columns. In November 1975 the Board for Certification of Genealogists approved her application as a Certified Genealogist, which was successfully renewed every five years until 2005. Her book, Ancestors and Descendants of Bertie Frederick (Burt) Moulton was completed and distributed to family members in 1976. Joy served as Chairman of the Greater Columbus Arts Festival in 1974, a member of the Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Commission from 1977 to 1980, member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society Board of Trustees, 1978-1981, and the Association of Professional Genealogists Board of Trustees. In 1981 she was leader of a genealogical tour to England sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society and The Ohio State University. A member of the Women's Board of the Columbus Museum of Art since 1975, she served as President in 1982-1983. Joy served as Vice-President of the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History 1985-1989, and President 1989-1993. She served as editor of its Newsletter 1986-1995. In 1987 the Newsletter was awarded First Place in the National Genealogical Society's Newsletter Competition. She received the first Award for Outstanding Leadership from ISBGFH in 1993. A member of the Council of Genealogy Columnists since its inception in 1987, she was elected President 1988-1990. Her book, Genealogical Resources in English Repositories, which was published in 1988 by the family company, Hampton House, received the National Genealogical Society's Award for Excellence in Methods and Sources in 1993. Joy spoke on genealogical topics at national conferences 1981-1995, and locally from 1980-1995. She taught extension courses at The Ohio State University 1975-1983, and at Capitol University in 1977. Her genealogical workshops were held at the Upper Arlington Public Library and Border's Bookshop 1990-1993. She appeared on Open Line, on the PBS station, WOSU, 1990-1996 with Tom Weibell, and occasionally on WVCI. She also completed a book, Ancestors of John Jonas Chester of Newark and Columbus, Ohio in 2000. She was listed in Who's Who in American Women, Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in Genealogy and Heraldry. The 120th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives recognized Joy for her many contributions to the field of genealogy with a Special Citation in 1983. Her genealogical collection of nearly 1,000 volumes was donated to the State Library of Ohio in 2003, and has been transferred to the Columbus Public Library. Joy was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Edward Quentin Moulton, a son, Dr. Charles Wade Moulton, and a sister, Diane Bernard. She is survived by daughters Dr. Jennifer Moulton of Reston, Virginia and Alison Papanikos of Fountain Hills, Arizona, son Dr. David "Rick" (Linda) Moulton of Johnson City, Tennessee; grandchildren Sarah and Meghan Look, Ashley (Andy) Hanks, Christopher and Alexandra Moulton, David and Marie Moulton, and James and Theodore Papanikos; and several nieces and nephews. A private service will be held. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Dr. Charles Wade Moulton Memorial Fund, Upper Arlington Education Foundation, 1950 North Mallway, Upper Arlington, OH 43221. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.