It is with great sadness that the family and friends of the Rev. David Ronald Moulton, age 73, share with you the passing of their loved one and friend on June 2, 2012 succumbing to a multi-decade fight with cancer. Ron is preceded in death by his parents the Rev. George Ernest Moulton and Mary Jane Walton Moulton. Ron is survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth Reeves Moulton, his daughter Lavinia Kay Ricketts and her husband Jonathan Ricketts of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., his son David Ronald Moulton, Jr. and his wife Tina Centofanti Moulton, of Jupiter, Fla. and his daughter Melissa Jane Bayley and her husband Todd Bayley of Land O Lakes, Fla., his two brothers: Ernie Moulton and his wife Mary Nell, and Bobby Moulton. He had five grandchildren Kimberly and David Ricketts, Brenna Moulton, and Timothy and Jennifer Bayley.

Ron was the child of Reverend George Ernest and Mary Jane Walton Moulton and was born July 20, 1938 in South Nyack, N.Y. His father's work allowed Ron to live in six different communities before graduating from Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Fla. Ron loved music and went on to Mississippi College where he met his beloved wife and lifelong best friend, Mary Elizabeth Reeves. They were married on June 3, 1958 in Mary's home church: Shady Grove Baptist, located near Bogue Chitto. Ron graduated in 1960 with an undergraduate degree in music. Being led by God's call, he enrolled in the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary later that year. Ron and Mary moved back to Bogue Chitto to be united with Mary's family in 1962 so they could assist her aging parents. Ron began teaching school at Brookhaven High School and Lipsey Junior High School where he taught chorus. During this time, he also farmed and additionally served as music minister at Central Baptist Church in Brookhaven and Wellman Baptist Church near Enterprise. In 1971, he returned to the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated in 1972. He began his first full-time music ministry at the First Baptist Church in Houma, La., where he received his ordination. Ron went on to serve as both a youth and music minister at the First Baptist Church of Niceville, Fla. and the First Baptist Church of Lake Worth, Fla. Ron returned to teaching in 1980 at John I Leonard High School inspired students through English and Yearbook where he worked until he retired in 2000. His influence and impact was significant as evidenced by the outpouring of compassion through letters and messages from the students and youth that he knew across the decades. Ron and Mary enjoyed their final years together traveling across the country and living in Lake Placid, Fla. before returning to Mary's original family home site in Mississippi where he served as a faithful member at Shady Grove Baptist Church. While here, he worked tirelessly reestablishing the family home by clearing the land and creatively landscaping the property to feature their beautiful home including a large pond with a lighted fountain which is home to geese, ducks and catfish. His church friends and family enjoyed the beauty of Ron's landscaping and the pond also providing the entree for church celebrations.

The family will be receiving guests for a viewing at Riverwood Family Funeral Service on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 from the hours of 5 until 8 p.m. A second viewing will be on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Shady Grove Baptist beginning at 10 a.m. with a service beginning at 11 a.m. Internment will be at the church's cemetery.

(Obituary published 06/03/2012, The Daily Leader, Brookhaven, MS)