Melvin Marshall Mulholland

MELVIN MARSHALL MULHOLLAND, of Apache Junction, Arizona, formerly of Modoc, Illinois, c ompleted his journey of 88 years here on this earth, at 8:19 am, on Saturday, January 23, 2016.  Melvin had a full and enriched life as he travelled this earthly home.

He was born on April 27th, 1927 to Albert and Mayme (nee Marshall) Mulholland in Modoc, Illinois.  He was one of 14 siblings born into this large sharecropping family growing up in the bottoms of the Mississippi River regions of Southern Illinois.  Melvin was used to following the rear end of a team of mules, in his bare feet with bib overalls on; so it was quite a change for a young man of 17 years to find himself in the Big Apple as he reunited with his brothers - Travis and Beattie during World War II.  He served for 27 months with the amphibious forces in the South Pacific as a CPO on the Coast Guard ocean-going Buoy Tender USCG Mallow.  He sailed from Hawaii to Alaska, back down to the Marshall Islands, the Gilberts, the Solomon’s, Palau, Saipan, Okinawa and on to the China mainland as the War was brought to a close.

After World War II, he settled in Dayton, OH; where he began his plumber’s apprenticeship in 1947.  He found himself called back up for the Korean War, until a hardship discharge was awarded.  After 16 years, he returned to Southern Illinois and created his own Plumbing/HVAC business in Modoc IL, and in Apache Junction AZ, for over 40 years.

It was quite a journey that he travelled, from Modoc, to New York, Hawaii, China, Dayton, OH, Modoc, IL and on to Apache Junction, AZ.  But along the way he was lucky enough to have found love.  He married his first wife, Betty Jane (nee Canaday) Arbaugh, who was a recent widow of a World War II soldier who had four children under the age of five.  He raised these four children, John, Darlene, Chuckie and Bettie Anne as his own, and in the next five years they had five more children together, Gary, Ronnie, Richard, Wayne and Patty.  In later years they would divorce and his second wife, Susan Marie Weber was the mother of his next child Timothy.  Then in 1978, he married Jeanette (nee Turner) Brown, and she brought four grown children into the marriage, Robert, Kay, Tommy and Sherry.  Three different wives, four different broods of children, and multiple grand, great grand and great-great grandchildren provided Melvin with a full quiver that became his family.

He was very active in his communities, holding various offices and responsibilities, along with being a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Moose and Elks organizations. He was an active outdoorsman all of his life and truly enjoyed his time elk hunting and fishing with his many friends.  He especially enjoyed a recent trip in October as a member of an Honor Flight to Washington DC to see the World War II Memorial and other monuments.  He was a great man in many ways, admired by his peers, enjoyed by his friends, endowed with great intellect and fearlessness for a man with an 8th grade education, and loved by many, both family and friends.

His Survivors are his w ife - Jeannette Mulholland of Apache Junction, AZ; his 10 Children - Bettie Anne (David) Van Winkle of Dayton, OH, Susie Mulholland of Apache Junction, AZ, Ronald (Connie) Mulholland of Red Bud, IL, Richard (Marlene) Mulholland of Payson, AZ, Patty Hite of Apache Junction, AZ, Timothy Mulholland of Red Bud, IL, Robert (Nancy) Brown of Alton, IL, Tommy Brown of Ellis Grove, IL, K ay Rader of Chester, IL and Sherry Brown of Apache Junction, AZ; his 2 Sisters  - Wanda Olles of Tucson, AZ and A da Tippleman of Fenton, MO; his Sister-in-law - Erma Mulholland of Belleville, IL; and all of the Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and Great-Great Granddchildren that have enriched his life.

He is preceded in death by his Parents, 5 Children - John Arbaugh, Darlene Arbaugh, Charles Arbaugh, Gary Mulholland, Wayne Mulholland 11 Siblings - Clifford, Roland, Daisy, Travis, Opal, Margie, Lloyd, Allen, Arlen, Evelyn, and Darlene; former wives Betty Jane Canaday and Susan Marie Weber; and 1 Son-in-law - Lonnie Hite.

Funeral Service will be held at 1 0:00 am, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the First Baptist Church, Red Bud, Illinois with Pastor Ben Chapman officiating. Interment will be at the Ellis Grove City Cemetery, Ellis Grove, Illinois. Visitation will be Friday – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home, Red Bud, Illinois  and Saturday – 9:00 am – 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church, Red Bud, Illinois. Memorials can be made to Family Choice.