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Stafford - Robert W. Mullen, 86, of Stafford, went home to be with his Savior on Thursday, (December 27, 2018) at The Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing at Batavia, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Mullen was born January 26, 1932 in Batavia, a son of the late Earl W. and Terresa (Wooster) Mullen.

Easily recognizable by his trademark Stetson Cowboy Hat, Robert was a long-time member of Northgate Free Methodist Church, and recently was attending Roanoke Community Church in Stafford where he was active as the music director. 

Mr. Mullen was proud of the community in which he lived and spent most of his life living on the Mullen Family Farm in Stafford.

Bob was a farmer.  He and Helen spent three years living in Arizona where he worked as a ranch hand and the two owned a small milk store, the Ro-Kay Dairy.

When an injury prevented him from physically performing farm work, he began coursework at Roberts Wesleyan College.  After obtaining a degree in social work, Robert became a teacher with BOCES and taught special education in several school districts in Monroe County until transferring into the Churchville-Chili Schools where he retired after 22 years in 1994. 

Following his retirement, he took a part time position with BOCES of Genesee County teaching the GED Course at the Genesee Co. Jail where he had an exceptional pass rate.  This was largely due to his unique experiential style of teaching that allowed students to connect with the material in a real-world sense rather than purely hypothetical.  He retired from this position at the age of 80 after 18 years.

A proud but humble man, Bob's passions were farming, horses, and children.  He would often stop to give any child he encountered a quarter and say hello.  He was a 65+ year 4-H Leader and was instrumental in developing the 4-H Tractor and Machine Safety Program in Genesee County.  He was a long time member of the Genesee Co. Fair Board, the Stafford Grange #416, Genesee Pomona Grange #10, as well as the NYS and National Grange.  He served as a Junior Leader with the Stafford Grange. 

He was a longtime volunteer with the Salvation Army and together with Helen was proud to have been a sponsor of a child through International Childcare Ministries for many years.  He was active with the former Genesee Co. Churches United Jail Ministry.  For many years he served as the Stafford Historian and Zoning Officer and was active with the Genesee Co. Senior Foundation.

Due in no small part to all of his associations, volunteer work, and dedication to his community, it is no surprise that Bob was honored as Geneseean of the Year in 2006 by the Genesee Co. Chamber of Commerce. 

He is survived by his wife, Helen H. (Hunt) Mullen, whom he married July 12, 1953; a daughter, Jacqueline (Eladio Montalvo) Mullen of Puerto Rico; sons, Robert W. (Regina) Mullen, II of Stafford, and Richard (Debbie) Spink of CA; brothers, Theodore (late Jane) Mullen of Freeville, and Lester (Barbara) Mullen of Stafford; a sister, Nancy (James) Clarq of Phelps; a brother-in-law, Herbert (Bunnie) Call of LeRoy; sisters-in-law, Gari Mullen of NM, and Dodie Mullen of Australia.  11 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Bob is preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Jaselis Camacho; brothers, Earl William, Roy, and John Mullen; sisters, Zelda Sipher, Louise Phelps, Lyla Stephens, Eleanor McCrumb, Arlene Call, Mary Ann Mullen, and Ruth Mullen.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 10 to 1 p.m. at H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main St., Batavia, where Robert’s Funeral Service will immediately follow calling at 1:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Tractor Certification Program, 420 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020.  Burial will take place in Morganville Cemetery, Stafford.

Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

BERNARD J. RONAN, JR. - 81, of Batavia, former City of Batavia Police Officer and Town of Batavia Justice died peacefully Monday morning January 5, 2015 at United Memorial Medical Center. He was born May 6, 1933 in Buffalo, NY to the late Bernard J. and Margaret (Langfelder) Ronan, Sr., also preceded in death by his siblings, David Ronan, Norine Ives and special goddaughter, Rosemary Ives.

   Mr. Ronan served on the City Police force for over 20 years and 9 years on the bench for the Town of Batavia. He is a United States Air Force Veteran having served during the Korean Conflict and was a long time member of St. Anthony's R.C. Church and current member of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish in East Pembroke. A charming man, quick witted with a wonderful sense of humor, he enjoyed camping and family trips, had a love of music and though never in public was known to have a beautiful singing voice. His home was his castle and he was always working hard to keep it up, family, friends and neighbors will remember him on his John Deere mower keeping the lawn at the perfect height.

   His accomplishments in law enforcement and as a judge were many and his peers remember him as fair, but tough. Family, education and hard work were paramount to Mr. Ronan, he and his wife worked tirelessly to give their daughters a good education. He was so very proud of his girls and grandchildren and his strong devotion to his family and his faith lives on in all of them. Bernard loved to travel and see his grandchildren and what they were involved in, but as his health deteriorated he was unable to do so, but always made sure they knew how proud he was of them.

   Surviving is his beloved wife of 54 years, Rose Mary (Joy) Ronan of Batavia and his beloved daughters, Mary Katherine (Steven) Fisher of Batavia and their children, Kaleigh Kathleen, Steven Ronan, Maxwell Connor & Cullen O'Connell; Margaret (William) Tretter of Pittsburgh, PA and their children, Paige Alexis, Madisen Rose & Spencer Davis; Patricia (Gerald) Thompson of Halfmoon, NY and their son, Gerald Arthur III "Trey"; Judith (Neal) Pason of Kintnersville, PA, and their children, McKenna Joy, Carter Hart & Holly Mae along with several nieces and nephews.

   The Ronan family will be present from 6-9 p.m. Thursday January 8, 2015 at the MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020 where prayers will be recited 9:15 a.m. Friday January 9 followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish (East Pembroke Site) followed by full military honors. He will be laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cemetery and memorials in his memory can be made to Notre Dame High School 73 Union Street Batavia, NY.

   Please leave your words of comfort to his family at www.tomaszewskifh.com and for more information call Michael at (585)343-7500.

THE FAMILY OF BERNARD J. RONAN, JR. IS BEING CARED FOR BY THE MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020.