Richard Livingston Mulholland, O.D., age 89, a longtime Optometrist and Sedro-Woolley and Burlington resident, passed away Monday, October 14, 1913 at United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. He was born January 22, 1924 in Waterville, Maine to Lawrence and Natalie (Tozier) Mulholland.
Dick grew up in Winslow, Maine where he graduated from High School and while attending high school he organized and played in a swing band. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps serving as a Staff Sergeant from 1942 to 1946. Dick was married to Carol Menagh on February 28, 1945 in Kearney, Nebraska for 61 years until her passing in 2006. In 1949, Dick and Carol moved to the Skagit Valley to start his practice and raise their family.
Dick attended Coburn Community College in Waterville, Maine and then enrolled at Kearney State Teacher’s College in Kearney, Nebraska where he received his basic Science and Pre-Med Degree. He attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry and graduated in 1949 with a degree as Doctor of Optometry. Dick received his license to practice in Nebraska, Maine, and Washington and he then established his optometry practice in Sedro-Woolley, Washington practicing for over 51 years. He has served as president of the Mt. Baker Optometric Society of the Washington Optometric Association and has chaired several major committees within the state association. He has held a position on the Washington Optometric Association Board of Trustees since June 1974-as trustee District #1 1974-76, vice president 1976-77 and president from 1977-78. In 1980, Dick was honored as Washington Optometrist of the Year.
He was active in his community holding memberships in the Eagles, Elks, Moose, Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce, Trinity United Presbyterian Church and George Baldridge Post #43 American Legion. Dick has been a member of the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club since 1953, serving as president from 1965-66 and he was a Paul Harris Fellow. Dick played in the drum and bugle corps for the American Legion in Sedro-Woolley. Dick enjoyed boating, fishing, bowling, and traveling and for 27 years; he and Carol would spend time each year in Hawaii. He was a resident and member of the Skagit Golf and Country Club where he achieved 2 holes in one in his lifetime, the first in 1977 and the second in 1978 at the SGCC. He enjoyed playing cards at men’s night on Wednesday, but his passion was raising roses.
Dick is survived by his son, Larry Mulholland and his wife Kathy, of Sedro-Woolley and a daughter, JoAnn Mulholland, of Burlington; two grandchildren, Kim Turner, and her husband Jeff, of Burlington and Kristi Hannan, and her husband Randy, of Clear Lake; six great grandchildren, Sydney, Jordan, and Madison Turner and Collin, Skylar, and Abi Hannan.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carol; a son, Mark in 2008; his brother, Maynard and a sister, Jeanie.
A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, October 27, 2013 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM at the Skagit Golf and Country Club in Burlington. A private family inurnment service will be held at a later date at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 726, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 in memory of Dick.
My thoughts are with your family Dick. I always enjoyed your sense of humor, seeing you at the club and playing gin or poker. We won’t be able to share a birthday drink this year, that makes me sad.