January 20, 1943 – May 21, 2024
John Edward Mullins of Oxford, Michigan, died on May 21, 2024 at the age of 81 after a long struggle with cancer and also from a broken heart after the recent death of his beloved wife Debbie.
John, who was called Jack by his close family, was born on January 20, 1943 to Dalton Mullins and Marion Sliter Mullins in Detroit, Michigan.
John graduated from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Oklahoma City in 1961, and then he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas for a year where he was part of the Infantry Communication Support Team. After that, he was stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War and was part of a team that would carry out missions in South East Asia.
After his military service, John returned to Detroit where he studied at Lawrence Technological University and then Walsh College, eventually earning his CPA license. His first job was with Deloitte and Touche where he learned the ropes of business and also discovered that he had a passionate entrepreneurial spirit. He would later go on to become a Certified Financial Planner and start several successful businesses throughout his career.
A lifelong learner, John always was reading and learning new skills. He was a musician, a pilot, a sailor, a master photographer, a golfer, and a bicycle enthusiast. He had a black belt in karate, and he taught himself French later in life. In 2004, at the age of 61, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration, and two years later, he completed his Master of Business Administration degree.
Through the years, he dedicated himself to many organizations and causes that he believed in. He was most proud of his work with Search for Common Ground, his brotherhood with the Detroit chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, where he guided efforts to establish scholarship programs for descendants of Vietnam veterans and graduates from Detroit Public Schools, and his volunteer service with Civil Air Patrol.
John is preceded in death by his parents Dalton and Marion Mullins, his uncle and aunt, Cleatis and Catherine Mullins, and his wife Debra Mullins.
He is survived by his daughters Lisa Dvorin and Nicole (Russ) Hewson, brother Charles (Dan) Mullins, stepsons Alex and Evan (Olivia) Zemaitis, brother-in-law Jon (Patti) Stowell, cousins Don (Rita) Mullins, Sandra (Floyd) Brown, Paul (Tonda) Mullins, grandchildren August, Darian, Easton, Ian, Sam, Tatum, Torin and Zoe, and his sweet dog Chloe.
He will be deeply missed by his family who will cherish memories of his goofy dances, his spirited and creative birthday songs, and his daily “I love you” texts to his family.
