Galen R. Mulford, PhD, 85, of Chillicothe, passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at Adena Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
He was born July 19, 1931, in Gallia County, the son of the late Dale and Lucille Bradbury Mulford.
On Dec. 21, 1958, he married Peggy Salyer, who passed away in 1994.
On June 11, 1999, he married Elaine Baker Hand, who survives.
Also surviving are three sisters, Martha Swisher and Carolyn (Robert) Holland of Cheshire and Sandra Mulford of Reynoldsburg; a son, Wendell (Mary Jane) Mulford of Madeira; a daughter, Molly (Blake) Beardsley of Powell; two step-daughters, Beth (David) Milam of Circleville and Mary (Jaime) Dick of Plain City; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers, Wendell and Robert; and a sister, Vivian Grant.
Following graduation from Cheshire High School in 1949, Galen enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Tarawa (CVA-40). He received his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees from Ohio University.
He spent the majority of his career in the Chillicothe City School system, where he served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He was particularly proud of his service as the first principal of Duncan McArthur Elementary School from 1961 to 1971. He retired due to disability in 1979.
Galen was a long-time member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he served in various capacities, including Deacon. He had a strong calling to share the Good News of the Gospel.
He was a member of Siloam Lodge 456 F&AM, the Ross County Retired Teachers’ Association, the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at Ware Funeral Home on Second Street in Chillicothe. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at Tabernacle Baptist Church with Rev. Steven Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Family Life Center at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Main and Hickory Streets, Chillicothe, OH 45601.
Visit www.warefh.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
