Alice Mullen Dallas

Alice Mullen Dallas, 92, of 1121 Gilgo Rd., Oriental, NC, died July 27, 2012, surrounded by her loving family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Mullen and Beulah Craddock Mullen of Roanoke, VA; daughter, Theresa Dallas Floyd; husband, Herbert Dallas; brothers, Ike, Thomas, Ned, Percy, William, James, George Mullen; and sister, Elizabeth.

She was born and raised in Roanoke where she was graduated from Fleming High School. She attended Radford College where she was awarded her teaching certificate. Following graduation she taught school in various locales in southwest Virginia. After her marriage to her high school sweetheart and the return of Herbert at the end of World War II, the family moved briefly to Dayton, OH and then to Miami, FL, site of their honeymoon, where she taught Special Education for seventeen years in the Dade County School system. She later worked for Baptist Hospital of Miami where she founded and led to Florida State certification a nursery school for the children of hospital employees.

During her time in Miami she worked tirelessly and devotedly for her church which was, along with her family, the center around which her life revolved. Along with a small but devoted congregation she helped organize and found Trinity Presbyterian Church on Bird Rd. She lived her life as a devout Christian and incorporated her faith in all phases of her life as a wife, mother, teacher, dedicated Democrat, advocate for civil rights, and in her love for and service to all human beings in need. Her capacity for love and compassion was evident to all who knew and admired her.

She maintained an independent life in her home until a few weeks before her death when she moved into The Gardens of Pamlico Assisted Living Center. There she found love and comfort from the owners and caring staff who welcomed her as family.

Mrs. Dallas is survived by her dearly beloved brother Raymond "Pete" Mullen; son Patrick Dallas and wife, Almira, of Oriental, NC; daughter, Linda Mercer and husband, Philip, of Ashland, MA; son, Mark Dallas and wife, Christina, of Morgantown, IN.; grandchildren, Brian Dallas, Jennifer Dallas Leggett, Roselle Garro, and Kimberly Reynolds; eleven great-grandchildren; nieces, Janice Mullen, Dorothy M. Elliott, Nancy M. Furnette, Sara Ann Mullen, and Carol M. Scott; nephews, Raymond, Gordon, and Pete Mullen.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM at Oriental United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles Moseley officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Inurnment will be in the church Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to a charity of choice or to Oriental United Methodist Church, PO Box 70, Oriental, NC 28571.