Howard Mullen, 94

Howard Mullen, 94, of Pomeroy, passed away at Patrick and Penny Mullen’s home in Long Bottom on Sunday October 2, 2022. He had resided with them since December 2021.

Born March 20, 1928 in Pomeroy, Ohio, he was the son of the late Charles H and Helene Byrne Mullen. Howard attended Sugar Run School, graduated from Pomeroy Senior High School and attended Ohio University. He was a Regular Army Corporal in the United States Army.

Howard joined the Pomeroy Fire Department on November 10th, 1952 and was approaching his 70th consecutive year of membership in the Pomeroy Fire Department next month. Howard’s service spanned nearly half of the time of the department’s existence, serving under many Fire Chiefs and in the department’s ward system prior to the consolidation of the department into the Butternut Avenue station in 1973. Howard, or Unit 18, as he is known as around the fire and law enforcement community, has dedicated his life to public safety. He spent six decades with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to many years serving on the Pomeroy Emergency Squad. More amazingly, his professional career took him across the state of Ohio as a highly respected bank examiner.

Howard has been the recipient of many awards, EMT of the Year, Meigs County Distinguished Citizen, Hocking Valley Regional Fire School Honorary Dean, but none were more important than friend and uncle to his beloved nieces and nephews. Howard maintained a winter residence in North Fort Myers, Florida serving their community as a volunteer fireman for many years. Howard would often go to Florida and before returning to Ohio, make a trip to see family in Oklahoma. Those trips were the highlight of his year.

Although many stories about Howard can be told by those around him, his favorites involved his friends in public safety. His highest honor was the naming of the Pomeroy Fire Department’s Butternut Avenue headquarters as the Howard B. Mullen Fire Station, for his 70 years of dedicated service. His only remarks were “I was never a great firefighter, so to speak. But I always wanted to help. The honor really belongs to everyone who volunteers here”.

We enjoyed his stories and experiences he shared with us about his fire, EMS and Sherrif runs over the years. Besides public service organizations he was involve with, he loved to travel and had a passion for photography. He should have written and published a book of his live long experiences. He was 94 years old, but his mind youthful. He loved is family, friends’ and animals. He was a kind gentle man with a loving soul.

He was a State Bank Examiner but continued working after he retired for several local communities’ banks. It was pertinent part of his life. He was a member of Meigs Couty Pioneer Historical Society and Meigs County IKES.

He was survived by nephews: Sean (Kayte) and Patrick (Penny) Mullen and Du Xia Mullen. He was blessed with great Nieces and Nephews, Kellie Mullen, Kerrie (Todd) Heins, Courtney (Daniel) Mullen-Cheavez, Casey (Greg) Mullen Cantwell, Jacinda Mullen (Jim Davis), Jason (Brittany) Mullen, Ian and Robert Mullen and Reva Mullen. He had 10 wonderful great great nieces and nephews. Gavin Blake Mullen Erwin, Ethan, Treyson, Carter Mullen. Jackson and Max Heins, Kieran, Declan and Olivia Cantwell, Londyn Giaimo. Libby Yonker(Adopted). Very special friends Edna Weber, Lisa Lutes, Debra Howard and Deb Mullen Withrow,

Hoady was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Helena Mullen, Brothers Charles (Phyllis), Don E (Barbara) Mullen, Nephews, Brian (Toot), Michael, Charles B. Mullen and several cousins.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the Beech Grove Cemetery in Pomeroy where military services will be conducted by the Middleport American Legion. A firefighters last call will also be performed by the Pomeroy Fire Department members. Visitation will be on Friday evening, October 7, from 4-7 p.m. at the Ewing-Schwarzel Funeral Home in Pomeroy. Friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at ewingfuneralhome.net

The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to Ewing-Schwarzel Funeral Home. If donations are preferred, please bequeath those to the Pomeroy Firemen’s Association, P.O. Box 247, Pomeroy Ohio 45769.