Harold F. Mull

We lost our beloved father on June 15, 2019 in Tucson, AZ. Harold was born Nov. 20, 1919 and raised on his parents' (Fount and Edith) farm 12 miles east of Anna, IL. After graduating in 1938 from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School he joined the Navy in 1939. While stationed on the heavy cruiser, USS Portland, he discovered both a love for travel and a career in aircraft maintenance. He returned to the states in early 1941 and spent most of WW II training other aircraft mechanics, notably on how to service the Hellcat, the Navy's new fighter plane. Harold served actively until the end of WW II and retired from the reserves as a Master Chief Petty Officer in 1965. In 1943 Harold met his wife-to-be, Velma Bartruff (daughter of Ernst and Leona) while on leave in Anna to see his brother, Bob, off to join the Army. Harold and Velma were married for 71 years and were kindred spirits in many ways. Family and travel were important to both. They took many trips throughout the US with their children to visit extended family and see the sights. In their later years they traveled abroad to every continent except Antarctica. He was 90 when they made their last trip to Africa. Harold and Velma left Mascoutah, Illinois in 1969 to live in Annandale, Virginia where he spent many years working for the Navy as a logistics engineer. He meticulously documented his family's genealogy and was proud that he could trace his ancestry in the US to pre-Revolutionary War days. He continuously volunteered at his Methodist churches in Illinois and Virginia and was still ushering at age 94 He will also be remembered for his passion for naval history and Chicago Cubs baseball. He and Velma attended many reunions with former shipmates on the USS Portland, including a 50th anniversary of the end of WW II on Truk Island. After retiring he enjoyed leading tours as a docent at the Navy Museum in DC. A long-suffering fan, 2016 was banner year for him when the Cubs won the World Series. Union County, IL always remained "home" for Harold, and he continued to visit family there every year until travel became impractical. He was a regular attendee at the annual Sitter Family reunions coordinated by Susan White mountain until his last one in 2016. He is survived by his sister, Mary Lou (Art); sister-in-law, Norma; children, Sue (Mark), Linda (Patricio) and David (Sherry); grandchildren, Julie (John), Jennifer, Ellen and Kristen; and great-grandchild, Connor. We will celebrate Harold's life at an 11 a.m. service on Saturday, Sept. 28, in the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Interment will be in the Anna City Cemetery. Graveside military services will be conducted by the Carroll P. Foster Post #3455 of the V.F.W. in Anna and the Navy Funeral honor Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Donations in memory of Harold may be made at the National Kidney Foundation (Kidney.org).