"I am sure many can make the same comment,however Mr.Mull had a significant impact on my life.I do not recall receiving better than a C+ in his math class yet the foundation he laid still serves me very well in my life & business experiences. It has been more than 50 years since I sat in his class @ CHS but I can still remember his impish smile when making a somewhat sarcastic point.My only disappointment would be not having known him when I became an adult."
In loving memory of
Elwood Mull
Elwood James Mull of Carmel, IN and Orr, MN passed away July 9. He was born in Streator, IL to Elwood James and Louella Mull. He graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1943 and joined the US SeaBees. Following his military service he graduated from Valparaiso University in 1951, and received a Masters degree from Indiana University in 1961. He taught high school math in northwest Indiana at Union Township, Horace Mann, and Portage. He retired in 1985 after 25 years at Portage High School.
He married Virgie Lee Buchanan in 1959 in Chesterton, IN, where they lived until he retired. In retirement they spent their winters in Sun City, AZ, and summers at their home on Pelican Lake in Orr, MN. Later they moved to Carmel from Sun City to be near family but continued to spend their summers at Pelican Lake.
He enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling, and billiards. His most loved hobby was wood working where he created carved duck decoys.
He is survived by his wife Virgie after 52 years of marriage; a step daughter, Linda (DeWayne) Akin of Carmel, IN; granddaughter Julie (John) Faas of Carmel, IN; grandson, Rick (Noelle) Akin of Seven Hills, OH; great-grandsons, Jonathan and Justin Faas and Clark Akin; great-granddaughters Jamie Faas and Izabelle Akin. He was preceded in death by his father, James Mull, mother, Louella Mull and a sister, Evelyn Mull.
Services will be held at Leppert Mortuary, Smith Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, IN on Sunday, July 17th at 3:00 p.m. with calling starting at 1:00 p.m.. Graveside services will be Monday, July 18th at 11:00 a.m. in Valparaiso, IN at Graceland Cemetery. You may visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book, share a memory with the family, or make a donation in Elwood?s name to IUF/Marcy Smith Scholarship Fund at IU School of Nursing or The American Heart Association.
Tributes
"I can share the same memories that John Dresh expressed since I also was a student of Mr. Mull at CHS. His classes were the ones I remembered from high school and had a great influence on my lifelong interest in math and science. I was later privileged to have Woody as an Uncle. My love goes out to Aunt Virgie and family."
"I chose math education in large part due to this man's influence. I have thought of him often as I have worked in math classrooms for the past 39 years. Thank you for inspiring me and countless other students."
"Linda, Julie and Rick;I'm very sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you all."
"My sympathy to Virgie, Linda and all the family. Mr. Mull was a wonderful math teacher--I was scared of him at first, as I always struggled with math, but he took compassion on me and I grew to respect and love him. I met Linda soon after her mom married Mr. Mull and we became good friends. He got me through geometry and taught me principles I used in chemistry. God bless his memory. "
"My prayers go to all of you at the loss of Papa Mull. May your memories be filled with thoughts of happy times!"
"Mr Mull was a great teacher as well as a good friend he will be missed my prayers go out to his family. "
"I was very fotuante to have Mr. Mull for my algebra and geometry teacher at Chesterton High School. He was absolutely the best mat teach I ever had and I also consider him among the top five teachers I ever had for my formal educaiton.Mr. Mull was a strict,, easy to undertand math teacher. He also could be quite funny. He taught "ne math" even before it was invented. However, he frowned upon our laughing in class. Whenever he told a joke, he would look up over his glasses to see if we were lalughting and I suspect felt good watching us attempting to subdue our laughter with snickers. One time he blew his nose which came out tobe quite loud. We all looked at each other and stiffled our laughter to which he added, "What did you expect - - chimes?" Wer couldn'thelp it - we did the unthinkable - we laughed out loud! For which we received one of his infamous stares!!!I gradulated from a school of nursing. Much later I studied at Loyola University to obtain a BHA. None of the credits from the school of nursing were tranferable but I was able to successfully test out and receive credits for math, science, and english. I attributed my ability to retain much of the math knowledge to Mr. Mull's teaching skills.While at Loyola, I took calculus, many accounting and finance course. I did very well on these course. I am proud to say that four of these teachers directed me to teach their classes when they were absent. Again I attributed this to Mr. Mull's teaching me the discipline of mathmatics, instilling in me a love of math, and desire to share this knowledge with others. My admiration of Mr. Mull's teaching abilities continue. When I saw "Mr. Holand's Opus": I immediatelly thought this movie was written about Mr. Mull. I will always be indebted to him and will keep the memory of this wonderful, kind, knowledgeable, sometime really funny man in my heart forever. "