William 'Bill' Mullins

William Thomas Mullins (“Bill”), 77, passed away suddenly yet peacefully on Friday January 26, 2024, in Petaluma, California. Bill was born on June 5, 1946, to Carl DeVoy Mullins and Irene Kathryn Mullins in Barre, Vermont. Bill’s family then moved to Chico where Bill graduated from Chico High School in 1964.

After an extremely fun 2.5 years at Shasta Junior College, Bill got drafted by the U.S Army. In the Army, Bill excelled and after completing guerrilla warfare and jump school, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Vietnam.  Bill earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service during the Tet Offensive, at the Battle of Hue. This period was one of great reflection and transformation for Bill, as it gave him an appreciation for his friends, family and country. To his children, it also gave him an annoying ability to always find “north” and to perpetually speak in map-terms, always saying “go north” instead of “straight.”

Bill was a new man after the Army; within two years, he married his loving wife Cecy, had his first son, Erik, and graduated from Chico State. Bill then worked for PG&E in various management rolls from 1973 until 2002. At PG&E, he was most proud of the work his team did after the 1989 earthquake safely re-energizing the city and as Chairman of the United Way, Golden Gate Region.  PG&E fortuitously moved Bill and family in 1979 to a country property in Petaluma that Bill loved to maintain and for 45 years lived next to the most incredible neighbors one could have.

Bill, an avid golfer, was a 40-year member of the Petaluma Golf and Country Club and immensely proud of his 5 “holes in one,” ability to drive long and finish with a single putt. That said, Bill had an unparalleled ability to throw his club using a helicopter technique developed on his occasional bad golfing day.  His friends and family thought that was his best swing.

Bill loved wintering with Cecy at their home in Rancho Mirage and traveling the world with her. Last December, Bill took his wife and son Kevan for a 5-week “bucket list” cruise through Southeast Asia that included cathartic stops in Cambodia and Vietnam. Bill lived life with no regrets and with incredible zeal.

Bill was known for his unique sense of humor and sharp wit, he will be greatly missed. His departure comes as a great shock and a deep wound, gravely felt by his entire family and countless others who loved him deeply. On that fateful morning, Bill was on his way to meet his coffee group and since it was his day to pay, he’d find some humor in the timing, as several of his cohorts did.

Bill collapsed in his driveway into the arms of neighbor Mandy Clendenen and due to her quick thinking, the watchful eye of her son Jesse, the valiant CPR performed by Jon Torliatt and the Rancho Adobe Fire Department’s 14 resuscitation attempts, Bill was able to keep fighting until his wife and boys were at his side. Bill left us as he wanted, surrounded by his family and they are grateful to all who helped.

Bill was the kind of guy who created and coveted family and community. He is survived by Cecy, his loving wife of 53 years; his children, Erik and Kevan; grandchild, Tatum; as well as his fierce canine companions, Labrador Hunter and German Sheppard Mia; the last of which, never left his side that final day and uncharacteristically tried to run after the ambulance.

A Funeral Mass for Bill will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at St. Vincent De Paul Church, 35 Liberty Street, Petaluma, CA, with a celebration of life to follow at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club, 1500 Country Club Dr, Petaluma, CA 94952. A private Interment will be held at a later date. Instead of flowers, we ask that you please make a donation to a veteran’s charity of your choice.