Bishop David B. Joslin

The Rt. Rev. David B. Joslin, 87, died Wednesday, October 25, at home. He was the husband for many years of the late Kathrine B. Joslin who died in 2016 after a long illness. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Anne “Missy” Bennett, and his children, Paul G. Joslin (Christina Webster) and Suzanne Joslin Tschida and six grandchildren: Sarah and Elizabeth Joslin; Matthew, David and Daniel Tschida; and Sydney (Tyler) Painter; and Missy’s children, Andrew (Kelly) Bennett and Sarah (Lee) Allison and 4 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Joslin Heinz and her husband, John Heinz, of Mount Laurel, NJ and their children and grandchildren.

Bishop Joslin was born on the 8th of January 1936 in Collingswood, NJ. He was the son of The Rev. Sheppard O. Joslin and his wife, Elizabeth Anderson Joslin. He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts of Drew University in 1958 with a BA degree in history. In 1961 he graduated with Honors from the Theological School of Drew University. Later in 1965 he completed a year of graduate studies at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA with a Certificate in Anglican Studies. In 2005 he was awarded a Doctor in Divinity degree by the Virginia Theological Seminary.

Immediately after seminary in 1961 he served in the ministry of the United Methodist Church in churches in Summit, NJ and Schenectady, NY. In 1965 he was ordained in the Episcopal Church and he served as Associate Rector of St. Paul’s Church in Montvale, NJ from 1965 to 1967. From 1967 until 1974 he was Rector of St. David’s Church in Brandywine Hundred, DE. He served as Rector of Christ Church, Westerly, RI., from 1974 through 1986. Subsequently he was Rector of the Church of St. Stephen, the Martyr in Edina, MN. In November 1990, he was ordained a bishop and became the Bishop of Central New York in 1991.

In 2000, he was asked by the Presiding Bishop to become Bishop Assisting in the Diocese of New Jersey and to lead that diocese through a difficult transition. In November 2003 he retired as a fulltime bishop and in 2004 was asked to become the Assisting Bishop of Rhode Island, a title he bore until 2012. In 2009 he served as Bishop Assisting overseeing the Diocese of Long Island during the illness of its bishop and helped prepare the diocese for its next episcopate. He has consulted with clergy and parishes as they clarified the focus of their ministries.

He also was very involved in ecumenism both as a parish priest and as a bishop and travelled extensively for the national church. He also served a term as the Bishop Visitor to the Society of St. Margaret, a religious order of Sisters in the Episcopal Church. Parishioners and clergy often described him as a faithful pastor, and in both parishes and dioceses he was highly regarded for his leadership skills and wisdom.

A Requiem Eucharist celebrating his life and commending him to God will take place at Christ Church, Westerly on Saturday, November 4, at 11 AM.

Donations in his memory may be made to Christ Church, George E. Kent Endowment Fund, for the organ fund.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI.

For online condolences go to www.buckler-johnston.com