Evelyn Shaw Moulton passed on April 28 in her 90th year, with the quiet grace that she was known for in life.
She was born in Tsingtao, China to Albert Leland Shaw and Maude Brooks Shaw, both born and raised in Maine. Her father was stationed there with The Standard Oil Company of New York. Evelyn would occasionally speak of her growing up in China. One of her stories included her mother telling her and her brother to simmer down and go to sleep and ignore the machine guns as the Second Sino-Japanese war waged on. At one point they were evacuated by British gun boats as a safety measure.
She attended the Shanghai American School during her sophomore year, though her parents were in Japanese occupied Nanking to the north. Due to the escalation of the war she returned to Maine and graduated from Cony High School in Augusta in 1942. She received her BA in history and government including a teaching certificate from the University of Maine in 1946. This is where she met and later married her husband, Arthur H. Moulton III of Portland.
Evelyn and Arthur lived in New York briefly before settling in Orange, Conn. in 1955 with their son, David. As Arthur became president and major stockholder of The George Ellis Co., Evelyn volunteered for many organizations in the New Haven area. A true treasure, Evelyn was generous with her time and her spirit. She did not hesitate to invite a bride to dress in her air conditioned home as the July temperature rose to over 100 degrees or to help a nervous newcomer to acclimate to Whitney Center. Always warm and welcoming, Evie was the perfect hostess. She enjoyed sharing her home with others, especially looking forward to summer visits with her young nieces Connie and Cyndi.
Her philanthropic works included the establishment of the Arthur H. Moulton Distinguished Scholar Award in Engineering at the University of New Haven and the “Moulton Mission Fund” at the Orange Congregational Church. Her dedication to the Connecticut Trails Council of Girl Scouts was evident as she chaired their annual cookie sale for the state of Connecticut and Fishers Island, N.Y. for multiple years.
Travel was one of Evelyn’s great joys. She joined her son on trips to Turkey, Scotland, Southern Utah, Norway and a return to China for her 60th birthday. The Summer Solstice was experienced at Stonehenge in 1999 and above the Arctic Circle in 1994.
Evelyn met Sally Lockett Taylor in 1942 a freshman at the University of Maine and subsequently met her sister Ann Lockett Walko. Evelyn’s final years were spent at Whitney Center in Hamden, where her dear friend of over 60 years, Ann, also resided. The three women formed lifelong friendships including summer vacations with their children spent on New Hampshire lakes, trips to Turkey and most recently at Rockywold/Deephaven Family Camps on Squam Lake. There were many gatherings as well at the Moulton Beach house in Westbrook, sharing many celebrations and holidays.
Lynn Bissell and Evelyn met at the Orange Congregational Church. When Lynn became too ill to attend Bible study, Evelyn met with her at her home. A year after Lynn’s passing, Bob Bissell reached out to Evelyn and they became fast friends.
They had each lost their spouses and for the next 22 years they enriched each other’s lives. Activities included travel to Turkey, Wind Jammer cruising, vacations at Evelyn’s condominium in Damariscotta, and Bissell family reunions. Bob attended Shaw family reunions at the Moulton Homestead in Jefferson, N.H. Bob attended so many SAS reunions that he was asked about his years in Shanghai.
Evelyn experienced being a surrogate mother and grandmother to members of the “Bissell clan” and it brought her great pleasure.
In addition to her husband Arthur, Evelyn was predeceased by brother, Albert Joseph Shaw.
She is survived by her son, David Walker Moulton of New Haven, Conn.; nieces, Constance E. Shaw Carden of Kodak, Tenn., Cynthia Shaw Gouwens of Bradenton, Fla.; and nephew, Gary Suess of Trophy Club, Tex.
A memorial reception will be held at 4 p.m., Mon., June 16 at Whitney Center. A memorial service and celebration of life will be 11 a.m., Sat., June at the Orange Congregational Church.
Those who desire may make a donation in her memory might consider Loaves and Fishes, 57 Olive St., New Haven, CT 06511, CT; Food Bank, PO Box 8686, New Haven, CT 06531; or a cause of your choosing.
For more information or to send a condolence, visit www.beecherandbennett.com.
Arrangements in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518.