Dr. James L. McMullen

1933 - 2019

Dr. James L. McMullen, 85, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully at his home on May 9, 2019.

A birthright Quaker, he was born to Albert Earl and Mary Hadley McMullen at Hale Hospital in Wilmington on November 21, 1933.

He graduated from Port William High School in 1951, attending Wilmington College before being accepted to The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. While at Wilmington College, he was a member of the Sigma Zeta social fraternity. At OSU he was a member of the Delta Sigma Delta professional fraternity.

In July 1958 he began his dental practice in Wilmington. During his 42 years of practice he enjoyed his role in the community caring for generations of families. Dr. McMullen loved and honored the profession of dentistry and was much loved and respected by his patients, colleagues and co-workers.

He was a member of the Dayton Dental Society, the Ohio Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. Over the years, he was also active in the Wilmington Jaycees, the Clinton County Farmer's and Sportsmen's Club, the Decorative Arts Society of Cincinnati, and was a board member of Sugar Grove Cemetery.

He had served as president of Smith Place School PTO, president of Phi Delta Sigma, president of the Clinton County Historical Society, president of the Clinton County Genealogical Society, and president of the OSU Alumni Association.

Dr. McMullen was a sportsman who loved the woods and the fields, small boats, dog and horses. He enjoyed gardening, photography, history travel, the arts and people. He always had a good-natured smile and gentle humor.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margie Dearth McMullen; three children, Melinda McMullen (Douglas) Tilton of New Vienna, John Leslie (Christine) McMullen of Cincinnati, and Amy Louise (Francis Brassard) McMullen of Delaware, Ohio; granddaughters, Mackenzie Christine McMullen, Megan Leslie McMullen, and Sarah Elizabeth McMullen; a brother-in-law, Dr. Harold Dickerscheid; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Isabelle McMullen Shanks and Dr. Carl Shanks; and sister-in-law, Dr. Jean Dickerscheid.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Springfield Friends Meeting, 121 Todds Fork Road, Wilmington, with Mike McCormick officiating. Interment will follow in Springfield Friends Cemetery. A gathering at the family home to receive friends and family will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Care Hospice, 1669 Rombach Ave., Wilmington, OH 45177 or the Clinton County Historical Society, 149 E. Locust St., Wilmington, OH 45177.

Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home, Wilmington, is serving the family. For more information or to leave a note of condolence, visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com.