Roy W. McMullen

Mr. Roy McMullen made his transition on November 18, 2025. Please take a moment to leave comforting words for his family. Roy William McMullen Sr., of Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully in Farmington Hills, Michigan on November 18, 2025, at the age of 101. Roy was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle – a hard worker, an Army veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, and selfless man of God. Born on June 10, 1924, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Roy was the son of James and Epsie McMullen. He was the youngest of three boys and the sixth of eight children in a sharecropping family. He was preceded in death by his siblings Mittie Mae McMullen (born in 1915), Rosa-Lee McMullen Baker (1917), James A. McMullen (1918), Isaac McMullen (1919), Nellie McMullen Sturdivant (1922), Marie McMullen Jones (1926) and Fannie McMullen Geoffrey (1928). At 17, Roy worked as a laborer on the construction of Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, a site that played a crucial role in training the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Recognizing his potential, Mr. Frazier of the Tuskegee Institute School of Mechanical Industries helped secure his parents’ permission for Roy to enroll in vocational training, where he learned welding—a skill that would shape his future. At 18, Roy enlisted in the United States Army and served honorably in World War II. Using his welding expertise, he repaired tanks behind enemy lines in Germany. Ever mindful of family, he sent his pay home to help support his parents, many of his nieces and nephews. He also set money to provide books and supplies for his younger sisters—making them the first of his siblings to graduate from high school. Following WWII, Roy reenlisted and continued his service during the Korean War, where he attained the rank of sergeant, demonstrating leadership, courage, and devotion to duty. After the war, Roy moved to the Detroit area, where he met Mary Margaret Virginia Peak while working at a restaurant he co-owned. The two married on June 8, 1954. They were blessed with three children: Roy William McMullen Jr., and the twins Dena Michelle McMullen (Helen) and David Phillip McMullen (Wendi) and two grandchildren: Erin Strossie Cole McMullen & Christian Kai Hunter McMullen. Roy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, who passed away on March 13, 2007. Roy’s strong work ethic carried into many roles. He worked for the New York Central Railroad in Detroit, later became a truck driver, and then joined R.C. Mahon. Eventually, he achieved his dream job at the Ford Motor Company as a welder, where he proudly retired after years of dedicated service. Roy was a man of faith. In 1950-51, while living in Highland Park, he, his brother Isaac, and other men of the congregation helped pour the foundation for the new St. Luke AME Church. In 1955, he formally joined St. Luke which was located just around the corner from his home. After retiring, he sang in the choir. In his later years, though he had nieces in the congregation, members affectionately called him “Uncle Roy,” reflecting the love and respect he inspired. Later in life, Roy married Johnnie Mae Johnson, who survives him. Their companionship brought him comfort in his later years. He is also survived and deeply loved by several generations of nieces and nephews, who cherished “Uncle Roy” for his kindness, wisdom, and devotion to family. Roy’s life was marked by humility and devotion to others. He lived with a spirit of self‑sacrifice, often putting the needs of family and loved ones before his own. He also showed tough love, guiding his children with discipline and strength that reflected his deep care. Whether through his military service, his work ethic, or his steadfast faith, he embodied the values of generosity and devotion. His family takes comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with his loved ones in heaven and rests now in eternal peace with Jesus.

Roy W. McMullen

June 10, 1924 - November 18, 2025