Obituary for Thomas O'dea Mullins

Thomas O''Dea Mullins, fondly known as Tom, died Friday, October 16, 2009 at the age of 90. Tom resided in Davis City, Iowa in the care of Barb Stout. • Tom was born December 21, 1918 in St Louis, MO. Tom''s birth parents are unknown. Tom was adopted by a Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mullins of East St. Louis after responding to an advertisement in the St Louis Post Dispatch placed by a Dr. Youngman advertising a baby boy for adoption. The couple divorced. Tom lived between the two homes until 1926 when he came to the attention of the Illinois Children''s Aid Society. Maltreatment and no proof of the adoption could be found by the courts so Tom was removed from their home on 11-06-1926 at the age of 8 years. Tom assumed the name of his first adoptive parents. Tom survived a series of foster homes and placements but eventually decided to remain at the orphanage in Chicago Illinois. • Tom was an avid baseball player and fan. At age 18 years he worked in sales and later started playing for the St Louis Cardinals minor team. On April 15, 1942 he was inducted into the Army 200th General Hospital as a Technician 5th grade. Tom received a Victory Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon a Good Conduct Medal and two Overseas Bars. He was honorably discharged March 24, 1946. • Tom met Cora (Corkie) Avalee Cochran in Kansas City, Kansas at a dance. They were married in Kansas City, Kansas on January 8, 1944. Tom and Cora had two children: Peggy Lee born December 21, 1946 and Kathleen born August 29, 1953. • Tom and Cora moved to Lamoni Iowa in 1948. Tom worked as a linotype operator for the Lamoni Chronicle until he became gravely ill in 1965 and became unemployed. After a long recovery Tom worked several jobs until he became an operator at the Lamoni Municipal Utilities Plant where he retired at the age of 68. • Tom was a voracious reader and spent many hours at the Lamoni and Graceland libraries. He enjoyed reading auto biographies and books on American history; especially baseball. • Tom remained an avid baseball fan and player. He played on the Lamoni team and earned the reputation of being one of Lamoni''s best. Tom had a lively sense of fun and humor which was displayed most mornings as he danced and sang to swing tunes on the radio rousting his family out of bed to enjoy the day. He enjoyed entertaining his daughters with jigs, tickles and horseback rides. • Tom is survived by his daughter Kathy Mullins- Lerma- DeNuccio and son in law Jerry DeNuccio, Grandchildren: Dustin Westfall and Alma Cote, Great-grand children: Teddy Lyle Palmer and Isadora Avalee Cote. • Tom is predeceased by his daughter Peggy Lee Mullins – Westfall – Wolf on January 8, 1998 and his wife Cora Avalee Mullins on September 7, 2000. • A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Saturday October 24, 2009 at 11am at the Community of Christ Church, 531 West Main St, Lamoni, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 10am. Tom will be laid to rest beside his wife Cora at the Rose Hill Cemetery following the service. • A memorial fund is established for the Lamoni Public Library. Please send your memorial to: Kathy Lerma, 310 E. 9th St, Lamoni, IA. Make checks out to Lamoni Public Library. • A special thank you to Barb Stout for all her loving care, Decatur County Public Health, Hospice of Central Iowa, and all our friends and family for their support. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives". Jackie Robinson Tom was very important to us and led an important life.