Doris Elizabeth West Mullinax

DOVER - Doris Elizabeth West Mullinax, of Dover, formerly of Columbia, S.C., went home into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's. She was 85. Mrs. Mullinax was born July 12, 1925, in Duncan, S.C., to the late James Patrick Henry and Talulah Myrtle Catherine Bagwell West. She grew up in Duncan and graduated from Duncan High School in 1942. She met and married her high school sweet heart Harry Wilton Millinax on Oct. 2, 1942. She spent 40 plus years as a military spouse, supporting her husband during WWII and his Navy and Army reserve career. Doris worked for her husband and his brother Frank as a bookkeeper for their National Gas Company in Union, S.C. Upon moving to Columbia, S.C., she worked for Reamer Heating and Air Conditioning Service and the University of South Carolina Finance Dept as a bookkeeper. Doris enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing tennis with her beloved husband, playing bridge, attending SC Gamecock football, baseball and basketball games. She also enjoyed entertaining in her home, traveling with her husband, spending time with her family. Doris attended Kilbourne Park Baptist Church of Columbia and Dover Air Force Base Chapel, Dover, 12:30 Gospel Service, where she was active in various church activities. She volunteered at Baptist Hospital in Columbia and the local prison ministries. Doris never met a stranger and greeted everyone with a big smile. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Mullinax; and brothers, Warren Wright, James Harold, and William Earl West. She is survived by her son, Harry Keith Mullinax and his wife Rondi Elizabeth of Dover; sisters, Betty Catherine Johnson and her husband Walter of Atlanta, Ga., Ruth Hahn of Charlotte, N.C.; four granddaughters, Katie Lynn, Kristin Ann Mullinax both of McClary, Wash., Heather Hart of Rehoboth Beach and Shawna Delaney of Camden. Funeral services will be noon, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011, at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. Friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery, Columbia, S.C. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Seasons Hospice, 220 Continental Drive, Suite 101, Newark, DE 19713; Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963; USO Delaware, 500 Purple Heart Way, Dover Air Force Base, Dover, DE 19902; or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, PO Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. The family would like to thank Charles Ford, Sr. Certified Nursing Assistant and Barbara Willmor nurse of Season Hospice and the staff of Delaware Hospice Center for their excellent care of Mom. Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.