Margaret "Peggy" Joslin

Mt. Sterling, Ohio - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Margaret (Peggy) Hanford Joslin, a beloved figure in the community, who peacefully departed from this world surrounded by family on August 8, 2023, at the age of 91.  Peggy’s life was defined by her values of education and community, her sense of adventure, and her immense love of family.

Peggy was born on February 18, 1932, to Ella and Philip Hanford in Reading, PA. One of six children, Peggy grew up in the Hershey, PA area and spent summers with her siblings and extended Hanford family in Ocean City, NJ.  She also enjoyed visiting her mother and brothers who had relocated to Paradise, CA in their later years. 

Peggy met Jay Joslin at Wilmington College in 1951.  She was a waitress at a college cafeteria and met Jay while waiting tables.  They were married on March 29, 1953 at the Mt. Sterling United Methodist Church.  Jay and Peggy settled in Mt. Sterling, having six children in nine years.

Beginning in 1963, while raising six children (and long before computers and online learning), Peggy commuted daily to school to complete her Bachelor of Science degree at Wilmington College in 1964 and subsequently her Master of Education degree at Wittenberg University in 1967.  She was hired as a PE & Health teacher and guidance counselor at Plains High School and continued as a counselor in the Madison Plains School District where she worked for more than 20 years.

A strong believer in the importance of education, Peggy helped establish and served as a Trustee for the Madison Plains Scholarship Foundation.  She created the Madison Plains Teacher Incentive Grant program and the Madison Plains Music Fund.  In addition, she started a scholarship for Madison Plains students attending Wilmington College and a scholarship at Wilmington College for junior students majoring in education.  She remained a member of the Retired Teachers of Madison County and enjoyed attending their luncheons.

Peggy loved her community which was demonstrated by her service to many organizations in Mt. Sterling.  She served as an EMT for the Mt. Sterling Emergency Squad, volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was a long time and active member at the United Methodist Church.  For 50+ years she not only loved making waffles at the UMC waffle booth but was free with advice on the proper way to make them.  She was a volunteer and contributor to the Mt. Sterling Community Center.

Peggy was also quite adventuresome.  She and Jay loved to travel especially on many Airstream Caravans making many cherished friends along the way.  They wintered for many years in Bradenton, Florida until Jay’s passing in 2007.  In her 80s, Peggy relocated to Boulder, CO to spend time with her youngest grandchildren and made many new friends at the Balfour Senior Living Center and Louisville United Methodist Church.  True to form, she served as a volunteer at the church’s food pantry. Throughout these years her greatest passions were for gardening, quilting and playing cards with friends.  One of her lasting legacies will be 30 years of bi-annual family reunions with the extended Joslin and Hanford families in Ocean City, NJ, where Peggy spent many summers as a young girl. 

Peggy's legacy of love, generosity, adventure, and strength lives on through her surviving family members, including her six children; eleven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Peggy is survived by her children and their spouses: Rod and Elsa Joslin, Bradenton, FL; Sally and Jeff Jaynes, Columbus, OH; David and Michele Joslin, Mt. Sterling, OH; Susan Joslin, Dublin, OH; Scott and Karen Joslin, Portland, OR; and Penny and Tom Tompkins, Boulder, CO; Peggy’s grandchildren Rachel Dingman Bolt, Kyle Dingman, Leah Joslin, Nicholas Joslin, Clay Hertenstein, Jake Hertenstein, Charlie Joslin, Devon Joslin, Mitchell Joslin, Cal Tompkins, and Grace Tompkins; and great grandchildren Calvin Hertenstein, Nolan Bolt and Joey Dingman.  Peggy was a cherished wife, daughter, sister and grandmother to those who preceded her in death; her husband, Jay, her parents and siblings, and her granddaughter, Marissa, as well as many other close friends and relatives.  She leaves behind a large extended family -  the Joslins, Hanfords and Skinners.

A memorial service to celebrate Peggy's life will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at the Mt. Sterling Community Center. Friends, family, and acquaintances are welcome to attend and share their memories of this remarkable woman.  Visitation will be from 10 - 11:30 AM, followed by a service at 11:30 AM.

In her Memory, the family requests donations be made to organizations close to Peggy’s heart:  Mt. Sterling Community Center, Mt. Sterling Library, Madison Plains Scholarship Foundation, and the Mt. Sterling United Methodist Church.

Though we mourn the loss of a beautiful soul, we also celebrate a life well-lived and the profound impact Peggy had on each of us. Her spirit will forever echo in the hearts she touched.