Paul Edwin Mullinax (94) of Ste. Marie

Paul Edwin Mullinax, of Ste. Marie, Illinois, passed away at 9:22 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Crawford Memorial Hospital – Magnolia Center in Robinson, Illinois.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 13 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, with Fr. Robert Spriggs and Fr. Dean Probst celebrating mass. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ste. Marie, with full military rites by the Ste. Marie American Legion Post #932. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the church and one hour before the mass. Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton.

Online condolences may be left by clicking here

Paul Edwin Mullinax was born and raised in Olney April 18, 1922, the son of Charles Howard and Nina Madora (Nicholas) Mullinax. He attended Olney Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1939. Paul worked at Schaulhausen Drug Store upon graduation as a soda jerk until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. He served during WWII at Key West, FL and Kahuku Battery Camp in Oahu, HI. Discharged in 1946, he took advantage of the GI Bill and began his education at Oklahoma A & M transferring University of Oklahoma in 1950  with a B.S.in Geology. On February 14, 1952, he married Rosemary Christine Hartrich at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie. They were married 48 years at the time of Rosemary’s death December 23, 2001. Paul and Rosemary loved life and shared many experiences. Paul was a very faithful and loving companion to Rosemary, especially during the many years of her compromised health. They were blessed by six children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Paul was first employed as a geologist for Pure Oil in Olney and transferred to their Calgary, Alberta, Canada offices in 1957. Paul and Rosemary returned to Illinois in 1961 and Paul began working for Zanetis Oil in Olney. During the downturn in oil production in the 1970’s, Paul started teaching science in local schools and received his M.S. in Education at Eastern Illinois University. He taught for 10 years before he returned to petroleum geology as a consulting geologist until finally entering full time retirement at the age of 89. Paul’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. He and Rosemary were very active in St. Mary’s Church. They were Eucharistic Ministers, coordinators of the Faith and Light Program, readers and especially enjoyed singing in the church choir. They served on countless committees, fundraising events, missionary work and were committed to spreading the gospel. They attended mass several times a week and were faithful servants to the less fortunate. Paul was a lifelong learner. His curiosity was limited only by time and health. His interests varied greatly. He loved photography, gardening, weather, fishing, trees, watching sports, and astronomy. He encouraged his children and students to find wonder and enjoyment in all of nature. Paul volunteered his time helping many others in different ways. He was an adult literacy volunteer, a Hospice Outreach volunteer, active in the Ste. Marie Community Club from its inception until 1987. He planted numerous trees in the city park, coached his children’s softball teams and helped many young people identify and classify leaves for school and 4-H projects. He especially loved spending time with his family. He loved playing cards and trivia games, watching Cardinal games, listening to music, telling corny jokes, and researching family genealogy. Paul was a quiet pillar of the community, and supported many charitable causes, whose quick witted humor lit up the faces of many.

Survivors include children, Stephen (wife Lita) Mullinax of Prescott Valley, AZ; Christine Mullinax of Bisbee, AZ; Gina (husband Stephen) Fox of Newton; Maureen Mullinax of Cincinnati, OH; Mary Anne (husband Nick) Del Rio of Bakersfield, CA; and Laura (husband Tim) Swan of Vincennes, IN.; grandchildren, Leslie (husband Matthew) Taggartof Charleston, IL; Sarah (husband John) Grissom of Castle Rock, CO; Shiloh Mullinax, deceased; Malachi Mullinax of Phoenix, AZ; Allison Tharp of Winona, MN; Sam Del Rio of Redlands, CA; Evan Fox of Newton; and Adam Del Rio of Bakersfield, CA.; great-grandchildren Grant, Claire, Luke and Kate Taggart of Charleston and Grace, Henry, and William Grissom of Castle Rock, CO.; sisters-in law, Mary Hartrich and Maxine Hartrich and brother-in-law, Eugene Hartrich all formerly of Ste. Marie and special friend, Evelyn Kocher.