John Henry McMullen, Jr.

John Henry McMullen Jr., age 80, passed away on January 15, 2025, at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Massachusetts. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1944, he was the son of John Henry and Clara Cornish (Johnson) McMullen. John was raised in Bristol, Pennsylvania and attended Woodrow Wilson High School in nearby Levittown.

After his graduation with the class of 1962, John ventured to Alabama to continue his education at Tuskegee Institute. John became a member of Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Shriners International Club. He also joined the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, a program of great historical significance. 

Many memorable events occurred during John's time at Tuskegee Institute, but perhaps none more impactful than his first day there, when he met fellow student, Evelyn Lawson, during their Freshman Orientation. It was love at first sight for both John and Evelyn, who is a second-generation Tuskegee student. On July 19, 1964, John and Evelyn were wed. The newlyweds continued their education at Tuskegee and began to grow their family. In 1967 John graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Mathematics.

That same year, the young McMullen family moved to Pascagoula, Mississippi where John had accepted an industrial engineering position with Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding. He received many opportunities over the years, moving to Coatesville, Pennsylvania in 1971 to work for Lukens Steel, then to Tabb, Virginia to work for the Newport News Shipbuilding in 1976, before moving to Sharon, Massachusetts in 1978. Each time John accepted a position in a new state, he would arrive there in advance of his family, taking the time to scout out and find the perfect home with emphasis on a good school system for his wife and children before they joined him. 

While in Massachusetts, John worked for the Polaroid Company, supervising film processing for a decade. At the same time, John pursued his Master's Degree at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts. He graduated in 1984 with his Masters in Business Administration. John also served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Mattapan Community Health Center (1987-1991). In 1988, John left Polaroid to work at the shipyard in Rhode Island. During his time, John was subjected to the traffic terrors of a New England commute, quickly learning that a five-minute time difference could mean sitting in traffic for hours or being home early for dinner. John would often share this lesson with his children, reminding them “ you want to leave early to beat the traffic” anytime they had an appointment to go to. In the early 1990's, John accepted the position of Minority Business Liaison with GTE, which later became General Dynamics. He proudly achieved his National Certified Purchasing Manager credentials in 2000. John remained a loyal employee until his retirement in approximately 2005.

John's family was the most important aspect of his time here on earth. He was a family-oriented man and provider who worked hard to ensure that his family was cared for. His wife was the love of his life. From their early days, playing pinochle and raising a family together and travelling the world, he was happy that she enjoyed traveling with him. John was proud of his family, supporting their interests and always celebrating their achievements. A naturally curious man, John was endlessly learning and exploring. He encouraged his children to do the same. If he sensed that the children were interested in a particular topic, he would help fuel their spirit of inquiry by quietly gifting them with books or related items to help inspire them. John was a doting father, taking the family to reunions, traveling to gymnastics meets or taking trips to New Jersey for dirt bike competitions. John taught his children to play chess and scrabble, drive a car; including changing a tire and filling it with air. When computers were brand new - he bought one so they could all learn how to use it and encouraged them to expand their minds. Notably, John was committed to his children and wanted to ensure each of them had life options. During an introspective conversation with his eldest daughter, he inquired about her recommendations for what he could do differently with her siblings. John’s desire to self reflect and seek her opinion spoke volumes of his desire to be the best he could be. John was thrilled when he became a grandfather, lovingly earning the name “GrandJohn" from his eldest grandson. He gifted his grandchildren with stocks when they were born, so they could learn about the stock market, and when they graduated from school, each received a custom gift that he had designed, decorated with photographs he had taken. John looked forward to the usual holidays like Thanksgiving and family reunions on the 4th of July, but especially the annual apple picking outing; where he enjoyed picking delicious organic apples to eat with his grandchildren.

In his free time, John had many hobbies. While he lived in Pennsylvania, John mastered bowling, perfecting his throw and even scoring a perfect 300! John enjoyed traveling, taking cruises around the world with his wife and sister Lanzy. They visited Italy, Greece, the Caribbean Island , Alaska, and many other destinations. His favorite trip was through the Panama Canal, an interesting site to see for an industrial engineer! At home John developed a passion for photography. He loved to take walks, capturing the beauty in nature, and snapping photos of those around him. John loved to surprise his family, neighbors, and friends with the photos he had taken, sometimes on printed paper, sometimes on coffee mugs, and sometimes even on blankets. He used his photography to document the life around him, compiling endless slideshows to share memories with his family. John was a storyteller, and the photographs helped enhance some of the stories. He lived a long life, filled with wonderful experiences, but also with adversity. John attended one of the best Historically Black Colleges in the country and lived in the Deep South during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. He faced racism and bias. John joined the Selma to Montgomery March when they reached Lowndes County and proceeded to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. speak at the steps of the Alabama State Capital. He overcame the obstacles in life and made the best life he could for his family. Sharing these stories, both the good and the bad, was a way of imparting wisdom and his legacy with his loved ones. Adversity took on a new name when John was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his fifties. Despite this new challenge, John persevered by running marathons and always looking for ways to improve his health, which involved a love affair with wheat germ that he lovingly shared with his family. He will be sorely missed.

Beloved husband of Evelyn (Lawson) McMullen

Loving father of Yolanda M. Talley and her husband Clyde of Worcester, John Henry McMullen III and his wife Roberta of Belgium, Yvette R. Valiente and her husband Cedric of Ellicott City, Maryland, Yvonne M. Jackson of Ellicott City, Maryland, and the late Sheryl D. McMullen

Cherished grandfather ("GrandJohn") of Quentin, Marcus, Lela, Caleb, Lucas, Asher, Remy, and Shaely

Brother of the late Lanzy McMullen Canty

Also survived by many extended relatives, friends, and colleagues.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend John's visitation on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John's name may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, ATTN: Donor Relations Center, at 375 Kings Highway North, Suite B Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 or by visiting https://mymsaa.org/ and selecting ‘Donate’