1922 – 2016

SOUTH PARIS — Joseph Lucien Moulin, 94, passed away peacefully during the early-morning hours Tuesday, Dec. 6, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. He had many family members by his side throughout the day and evening.

He was born in Auburn on Feb. 4, 1922, the youngest child of Arthur and Marie Noel Moulin. His early education occurred in various schools throughout small towns in Maine, such as Gardiner and Belfast, as his parents moved frequently working in the shoe industry. He also attended schools in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1940.

In January 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became an aircraft electrical specialist. He was stationed in North Africa for the next three years and was honorably discharged in November 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant.

When he returned home in Auburn, he took a job in the shoe industry. He met and married Liliette St. Clair. Together, they had three daughters, Lucy, Anita and Denise and made their home on Broad Street in Auburn in the house Dad built. They were happily married for 65 years until Mom passed away in 2010. They were communicants of St. Louis Church.

After their marriage, Dad worked as a hand sewer, progressing in that field until he became foreman of the hand-sewing department of the Commonwealth Shoe and Leather Co. in Freeport. He worked there for over 20 years, supervising more than 130 men who made Bostonian shoes until the company was sold and the department phased out. During that time, the company employees formed a credit union and Dad became its first treasurer in the summer of 1959. As his job made more demands on his time, he moved from treasurer to supervisor and then auditor for several years. During these years, he took several courses in management from then-Central Maine Vocational Technical College. From 1945 to 1968, he also served as recording secretary for the Catholic Order of Foresters Insurance Co. From 1964 to 1972, he served on the School Committee in Auburn. In 1968, he joined the Toastmasters Club, which he enjoyed tremendously and was elected its vice president in 1969. He was also a lifelong member of the American Legion Post 153. In March 1972, Dad joined Metropolitan Insurance Co. as an agent, a position he held until his retirement in 1987.

After retirement, Dad continued to enjoy his hobby of woodworking. He lived in his home for 66 years until, at the age of 91, he moved to Montello Heights in Lewiston where he lived for a year and a half. He then moved to Fallbrook Woods, a memory care facility in Portland until this past September when he made his final move to the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris.

Dad was an ingenious man who could draw, plan and execute complex house plans and did so for himself, his parents, and his children. He was a devoted husband and loving father to his three girls. While he had many accomplishments in his life, he will be most remembered as the kind, optimistic, gentle man who always had a smile on his face and a little joke and a chuckle that brightened the days of everyone he encountered. Everyone who knew Joe Moulin loved him.

He is survived by his three daughters and their husbands, Lucy and Jon Guay of Lewiston, Anita and Maurice Dube of Lewiston, and Denise and John Ricchio of Portland; his four grandsons, Jon Guay and his wife, Beth, of Poland, Ryan Guay and his wife, Kim, of Poland, Joseph Dube of Montreal and Daniel Dube of Lewiston; and his great-grandchildren, Colby, Jonah, Ariana, Brady and Ainsley Guay.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Liliette; four siblings, Lucille, Noel, Roland and Marguerite; and his 20-month-old great-grandson, Colton Guay, last year.

The family wishes to thank the staffs at Montello Heights and Fallbrook Woods for the family-like care that Dad received during his stays there, and we would especially like to thank the Maine Veterans’ Home staff for the exceptionally attentive care Dad received in his final months.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Joseph’s online guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

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