James Dale Mullens' Obituary
James Dale Mullens, born on October 30,1946, went home to see his God and his Mama on July 18,2024. The man better known as Dale was born the 7th of 10 kids to Louis Frank and Mary Mullens in Roscoe, Texas. He was proudly the first one that was born in a hospital. Dale met his life-long friend in Sweetwater, Texas in the 1st grade on the 1st day of school and they remained friends until Lonnie Davenport Sr passed away in 2020. While in High School he played football, was in the stage band and marching band.
After serving in the Air Force, Dale took a job as “the Rag Man” delivering linens. While on a delivery in Rusk, Texas he met the woman he couldn’t live without. January 11th of 1969 Dale and Brenda (Oliver) Mullens began a marriage that set an example of what marriage should be.
In his words “I traded my old friends for new ones in 1976 when I began attending church at Terrace Hills Baptist Church” in Longview, Texas. One of those friends became Dale’s fishing buddy after retirement. When Dale and John Carr were on the water, Crappie jumped in the boat out of fear. He became a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher and was mentor to many along the way. Over the years he was a member of several churches. The last being Sovereign Life Fellowship.
Dale began a career in the oil field in January 1976. After gaining the love and earning the respect of a hundreds if not thousands of friends and coworkers, he retired in 2011.
Dale had a passion for teaching people about life, about Jesus and about work. Be the best at whatever you do. If you were wrong, he’d tell you. If you were right, he’d applaud you. Always had a story or a joke. Most of them turned into a lesson of some sort. Firm but Fair. And if you were his son, you felt the firm part a lot growing up.
His love for his God, family, church family, work family, traveling and the outdoors shined through him every day. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Dale was preceded in passing by his Father and Mother. Sisters- Louise, Laverne, Karen, and Judy and Brothers-Doyle, Dwayne, Edwin (Lynn).
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Brenda Mullens, Daughter-Sharon Ponton and Kevin Parker. Son-Roy Dale Mullens and Sinda. Granddaughters-Nicole Harness and Ron, Gabrielle Mullens, Kayla Barkwill and Casey, Shelby Hochdorf and Jakob, Kendra Ponton and Josh Burleson, Cyndi Coulter and Cameron. Grandson- Troy Mullens. 5 great grandsons and 2 on the way. Brothers- Robert Mullens and Betty. Loeman (Butch) Mullens and Lois. And a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Kevin Parker, John Woods, Danny Langston, Robbie Wooten, Ronnie Davenport and Lonnie Davenport. Honorary Pallbearers are Waylon Ott, Bernie Barg, Robert Ontiveras and AJ Drexler.
On July 22,2024 services to honor Dale will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. A time of visitation will be from 11am until 12pm with a service to follow at at 12 at Rader Funeral in Longview. Burial will follow the service at Lakeview Memorial Garden in Longview.
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