Walter Gray Mullen, 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, surrounded by his family. He was born on Thursday, January 16, 1930, in Nash County, North Carolina to the late Joseph Samuel and Carrie Lee Tant Mullen. Walt served his Country and his Community with pride and dedication. He served in the United States Air Force for 4 years. He served as a police officer with the City of Rocky Mount Police Department for “30 and a half years”, beginning his career in July 1956 and retiring as a Lieutenant in January 1987. During his career with the police department he served in the patrol, detective, training and recruitment, and special operations divisions. He was shot in the face during an in line-of-duty incident in 1967, while conducting a traffic stop, and true to form, drove himself to the hospital while maintaining possession of the perpetrator’s drivers license. He is still known for his extraordinary memory and recall ability by those who worked with him. Known as Honey, Daddy, Papa, and Pa he was loved and will be missed by his family. Walt was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife of 60 years Clara Jean Vick Mullen, his “two boys”, Kenneth and his wife Debbie Mullen of Rocky Mount, Greg and his wife Kedron Mullen of Charleston, SC; two brothers, Roy Lee Mullen (Hilda) of Wilmington, NC and Charles Davis Mullen (Pattie) of Carolina Beach, NC; grandchildren, Shannon Mullen Maloney (Rob), Travis Mullen, and Chet Cereno; great-grandchildren, Madison and Camryn Maloney, and a very special niece Sharon Eatmon. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Arlington Baptist Church, beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2013, with the funeral service to follow immediately afterwards at 3:00 p.m. in the worship center at Arlington Baptist Church with Reverend Tim Lowry and Reverend Greg O’Neil officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park in the Veteran’s section. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arlington Baptist Church Building Fund, 1500 Bethlehem Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27803.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 00:51:28 +0000