William John Mulhall Jr.

October 16, 1928 ~ February 21, 2019

WILLIAM JOHN MULHALL, JR. (October 16, 1928 - February 21, 2019) William John Mulhall, Jr. was born to Lillian (Nelson) and William John Mulhall, Sr. on October 16, 1928 in Providence, RI. As the youngest of three children, William grew up in the midst of the Great Depression in an Irish-Catholic household where God, hard work, and the drive for betterment were of utmost importance. At the age of 18, William joined the US Army where he earned a position within General MacArthur’s 283rd Band playing the trumpet. After being stationed in Japan for some time, he was sent back to the States with an illness where he spent a year in a veteran’s hospital and later honorably discharged. Upon his return to Providence, William was accepted into University of Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. One fateful night with his buddies at the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet dancehall, William was lovestruck after meeting his future wife, Dorothy Grace Gemma. Four years later, they married and began a 63-yearlong journey that resulted in seven children, nine grandchildren, three states lived in, and numerous countries travelled. Following a move to Southern California, William worked as an Industrial Engineer for Rockwell International (now Boeing) for 32 years where he was instrumental in the creation and implementation of both the Apollo and the Space Shuttle programs. During this time, he managed to earn a Master of Arts degree in Business Management from University of Redlands which he utilized upon his retirement. His inherited entrepreneurial nature would not allow him to sit idly following his exit from the aerospace industry. William started a business, which he later passed along to his family, and began teaching as a substitute for students from grades kindergarten to high school. With an unwavering love for God and his faith, William was significantly involved in committees within the Catholic Church such as The Pro Sanctity Center in Fullerton, St. Joan of Arc in Victorville, and St. Polycarp in Stanton, where he was the first president of The Italian Catholic Federation (the running joke was that he was an Irishman that was Italian by marriage). He was a devout viewer and advocate of EWTN television. So much so, that he singlehandedly spearheaded a campaign to get the network broadcast in a greater local region. William and Dorothy never liked being far away from their children and grandchildren. So, when they found themselves with an empty house, they settled in a new home that was central to their offspring in Murrieta, CA. There, William loved spending time with his family, attending daily mass, working non-stop on household projects, and researching his ancestry. William is survived by his children William III, Patrick, Michael, Linda and Jennifer Mulhall; his daughters-in-law Vonnie, Terry, and Ginger; as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His passing was preceded by his loving wife, Dorothy Grace, his sons Baby Boy and Eric, his parents, as well as his sisters Dorothy Jackson and Marjorie Mulhall. Service Information: When: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 Where: St. Martha’s Catholic Church 37200 Whitewood Rd. Murrieta, CA 92563 Time: 9:00am- Rosary 9:30am- Mass 11:00am- Reception St Martha's old worship center In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to William’s charity of choice: The Pro Sanctity Center: http://caprosanctity.org/contact/