Ernest P. Mullinax

Mullinax, Ernest P.
Of Grand Rapids
Formerly of Kalamazoo Ernest Philip Mullinax, age 84, departed this life and joined his Lord and Savior on May 15, 2011 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born on June 26, 1926 in Mountainair, New Mexico, to Willard and Emma Spangler Mullinax. Although he was blinded as a result of two separate accidents, he viewed his blindness merely as an inconvenience to overcome and never allowed blindness to prevent him from doing anything. He graduated from the Radio Engineering Institute in Omaha, Nebraska in 1947 and started Ernie's Radio Repair shop in Hesperia, Michigan. In 1953 he married the former Betty Lou Vredeveld in White Cloud, Michigan who was his wife for 53 years until her death in 2006. Shortly after Ernie and Betty were married they moved to Kalamazoo where he got a job at Pretzer's Grill and a few years later he became owner of Kino's Grill, a small diner which he ran for several years. Desiring a change of profession, he became the first blind student to enroll in the upholstery program at the Michigan Rehabilitation Center. After completing this program, he started an upholstery business. It was during this time that he became an avid amateur radio enthusiast, and eventually achieved the "Amateur Extra Class" which was the highest rank available. Ernie KX8L was a member of the Southwest Michigan Amateur Radio Team The S.M.A.R.T. Club and received numerous awards including the 1982 Ronald P. Titus award for public service communications and Outstanding Volunteer for his monitoring of the K8TIW repeater in 1992. Because of his interest in radios, a friend offered him a job at American Instruments Corporation AIC which he held until his retirement. Both he and Betty spent many hours volunteering at Portage Community Outreach Center PCOC and in 1997 they were jointly presented with the STAR award by the Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo for their volunteering work. Ernie's faith was important to him and he currently was a member of Second Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. Ernie was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a kind and giving man; completely non-judgmental, full of integrity, honor, character and good humor. Even though blind, he always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye. Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; one brother, Earl Mullinax; two sisters, Dorothea Mullinax and Fern Davis; and one half-brother, L.D. Johnson. He will be greatly missed by his two sons, Dave Gail of Portage, MI and Mark Barbara Osburn of Grand Rapids, MI; two grandchildren, Amber Matt Montecinos of Kalamazoo and Jessica Dominic Price Mullinax of Kalamazoo; two great grandchildren, Caden Price and Addisyn Montecinos; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 pm on Thursday at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Center Ave. A private family interment will be held in Portage Central Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm at the Portage Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to the Benevolence Fund of Second Christian Reformed Church, 3015 Nichols Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49004. Please visit www.langelands.com to view the obituary and send a condolence to the family.