William F. Mullen Jr.

William Francis Mullen, Jr was born in Chicago on January 23, 1939 to Helen (née McGrath) and William Francis Mullen, Sr. He had a strong upbringing in the Catholic Church serving as an alter boy and singing in choirs, developing a beautiful tenor voice singing in his father’s men’s choir, always having a love for that music. In his teenage years he and his brother rode the train from Chicago to Boston and worked summers on an Aunt and Uncle’s farm in Hanson, MA. He loved that time in his life, animals and farm chores, and spoke of it often. He met his first wife, Sally B. Mann, in Hanson and they married on August 12, 1961 shortly after he graduated Loyola University of Chicago. Four daughters soon “entered the picture”, beginning his lifelong hobby in photography.

He proudly and successfully served our country in the Army National Guard, 1961-1965

His early work career for various major corporations was in Human Resources Management, Compensation and Organization planning. In 1984 he opened The Village Hardware in Broadalbin, NY blending work with his hobbies of woodworking and tools.

He was a Rotary member and on the Board of Education for Broadalbin-Perth school district. He was an active parishioner at St Salome’s in Irondequoit, NY and on parish councils at Good Shepherd, in Henrietta, NY and St Joseph’s, in Broadalbin, NY.

Eventually he moved to Virginia Beach where he met Crystal Bruffy. They were married on July 13, 1991, and he gained three more daughters and their families. He worked 30 years as a manager at Lowes in Virginia Beach, continuing his love of hardware and tools, helping people repair and fix things. He retired in 2021 and moved to Smyrna, NY. In all the years of his work life his focus was helping others, in whatever capacity that entailed.

He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Cohoon, and his brother, James Mullen, his four daughters and their spouses; Catherine and Eugene Fuller, Caroline Mullen and Michael Martinez, Bridget Mullen, MaryEllen and Matthew Rose, his two stepdaughters and their spouses; Teresa and Richard Land, Diana and Woodall Thomas, stepson-in-law Mike Hough. Also surviving are nine grandchildren; Ashley, Alyssa, Nolan and Catherine Fuller, Christopher and Joshua Knott, Hannah and Aiden Rose, Michael I. Martinez, and six step-grandchildren; Wendy and Ben Thomas, Amberly Ives, Trevor and Tucker Bruffy, E. Joseph Ryan III, six great step-grandchildren, his former wife Sally Mann and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Helen and Bill, an infant sister Maureen, wife Crystal Bruffy, sister-in-law Judy Mullen, brother-in-law Robert Cohoon, stepdaughter Robin Bruffy-Hough, and his many beloved pets.

He was sensitive about his middle name, Francis, but his love for nature and all animals, the name relating to St Francis certainly fit. In lieu of flowers please donate to a local animal shelter. Lend a helping hand to someone in need, as he always did with kindness, grace and love.

A memorial mass will take place at 10:00am on Saturday, July 6, at St. Mary's Church, 16 Wylie St. Hamilton. Burial with military honor guard will take place at Sherburne West Hill Cemetery following the mass.