Joseph Patrick Muldoon
Joseph Patrick Muldoon - devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, fierce competitor, voracious reader, World War II veteran, and retired library director - died at age 98 at his home in Blacksburg, Va. on March 27, 2025. Known to everyone as “Joe,” he loved the beauty and power of nature, language, writing, books, deep discussions, music, sports, and above all else his family.
Joe is survived by his wife of nearly 35 years, Joyce, and two sons Matthew (Leslie) and Scott from his previous marriage to the late Marilyn Gale Morrison Muldoon. He formed a special relationship with Joyce’s sons Todd (Peiney), Chris (Kathy), and David (Jamie) and their families who cherish the many years they shared with Joe. He was preceded in death by his parents; his two sons, Joseph Patrick Muldoon Jr. and Michael Mark Muldoon; and his siblings John “Pat” Joseph Muldoon, Elizabeth “Liz” Mary Muldoon Spindle, Thomas Herbert Muldoon, James Henry Muldoon, Francis “Pex” Henry Muldoon, Eleanor “Nell” Muldoon Richter, and Robert Paul Muldoon.
Joe’s patience, encouragement, kindness, humor, and gentle spirit endeared him to all, but especially to children. He is survived by his grandchildren Ethan, Shane, Sean, Megan, Shaelyn, Hannah, Gabby, Izzy, Isaac, Addison, Anna, and Caroline, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Joe will be held Friday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Radford, Va. A musical prelude of guitar selections will begin in the church at 10 a.m. A private interment ceremony with full military honors will follow at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, Va.
Joe was born on January 19, 1927, in Abington Township, Penn. to Margaret Anne Herbert Muldoon and Joseph Muldoon, immigrants from Joe’s beloved Ireland. As a child Joe accompanied his father as he attended to various business ventures including a pub. When Joe was only 7 years old his father died. Joe subsequently held a paper route, delivered milk, and worked at the post office, giving all that he earned to his mother to help support their family. Joe was an altar boy at his Catholic Church, as well as a tough and gifted athlete who excelled in wrestling, gymnastics, and baseball.
After high school Joe was drafted into the United States Army, serving in Europe during World War II. Joe’s 5 older brothers were also all WW II veterans. Thomas was wounded serving in Africa. Pex flew Corsair missions off the USS Shangri-La in the Pacific Theater. James served in the European Campaign. Robert served as a radio operator on B17 and B29 bomber aircraft. Joe’s sister Liz, although not a World War II veteran, worked at the Pentagon making maps and assigning weight loads to bombers. The service and sacrifice of his siblings were an intense source of pride and inspiration to Joe.
GI friends introduced Joe to the Great Books of the Western World program that began at the University of Chicago. Fresh from his military service, Joe enrolled there. While at Chicago, he also wrestled, becoming champion in his weight class for the state of Illinois. He later received a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and continued wrestling. Another scholarship helped him receive a master’s in public administration from Wayne University.
Joe worked in public health administration in Pittsburgh and then in Hartford where he met Marilyn Morrison, a nurse. After they were married, the couple moved to Boise where Joe took a position as State Director for the American Heart Association. They eventually returned East with 2 young children, settling in Connecticut where Joe directed multiple high school libraries, taught photography, and coached wrestling and tennis. It was at Southern Connecticut University that he earned his third master’s in library science.
Joe and Marilyn eventually divorced, their now 4 children off studying at different universities all around the country. Joe traveled throughout Japan and taught English at a school there before returning to the U.S. and starting the next chapter of his career, working as a library director and tennis coach first at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania and later at Chatham Hall in Virginia.
Joe met Joyce Buck, a high school English teacher, at an educational technology conference in 1988, and they married two years later. The couple moved to Florida where Joe continued his career, directing the library at Ransom Everglades School.
After retiring and returning to Virginia, Joe and Joyce enjoyed traveling and spending time with their friends and family, including their inseparable companion Maggie, a Yorkshire Terrier. One of Joe’s favorite spots was their back porch, where he would enjoy the sunshine and flowers, and watch the birds and hummingbirds.
Joe never lost his fighting spirit and incredible thirst for knowledge. He loved to play his guitar and took lessons well into his 90s. Until the very end of his life, Joe relished conversations about great books, sports of all kinds, his many escapades and accomplishments, current events, and the beauty that he found in all aspects of the world and so beautifully captured through his poetry and photography.
Joe’s family thanks Sarah, Ann, Margaret, Donna, Warm Hearth at Home (Jonathan, Mandy, Laura), Good Samaritan Hospice (Kendra, Denise, Holly, Linnea), Diane and Patrick, Grace Episcopal Church, Reverend William Yagel, and the many friends and neighbors who lovingly and selflessly cared for Joe. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joe’s memory to Grace Episcopal Church, 210 4th Street, Radford, VA 24141, Good Samaritan Hospice, or your local library.
A life so richly and exuberantly lived cannot be adequately captured in words, but perhaps some of Joe’s final ones come close. At one of his last Communions, Joe told his priest, “Thank you for getting me a seat on God’s airplane.” That was Joe - ever grateful, always looking forward to the next journey, and always ready for the next great adventure. Godspeed, Joe.
The Muldoon family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Virginia. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com
