Arlene S. Mullins

A life of loving service and support came to a peaceful end early Tuesday morning, April 14th when Arlene Mullins slipped quietly from this world. Her 95 years were filled with frontiers, fellowship, and family, enriching the lives of everyone she met. Arlene Francis Sutherland Mullins was born on May 31, 1930 in Dickinson, North Dakota and stayed on the homestead with her grandmother because her mother, Ruth Sutherland, was often away teaching at itinerant rural schools, accompanied by Arlene’s sister Dorothy. Ruth later moved the three of them to Lincoln, Nebraska while compiling her Master’s Degree in Geography. Ruth was then recruited by the War Department and relocated to Washington, D.C. After graduating high school in Arlington, VA, Arlene studied at the University of Maryland, graduating with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration. She was on a path to attend the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Finance until her path crossed with Chuck Mullins. Wharton was put “on hold” when the two married in June 1954 just after his graduation from Princeton, but before he entered George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C. Arlene’s seven years work experience at the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization recruiting technical assistance experts and sending them to the underdeveloped countries of the world more than equipped her to serve as her husband’s lifelong “administrative assistant,” personally, financially, and professionally. While traveling with Chuck to more than 40 countries, she satisfied her love of travel, history, geography, and finance. With many six-week visits to Saudi Arabia over a period of 15 years, the Mullins often called Riyadh their second home. It was there that Arlene’s administrative skills were enlisted by Saudis planning to establish a school for Down’s Syndrome children; and, for some years, Arlene helped the Riyadh Military Hospital coordinate Pediatric Cardiologists from North America. Over the decades, Arlene’s memberships in Army, Houston Arboretum, Junior League, civic, and medical-related organizations invariably found her in an administrative or treasurer’s position, including Girl Scout Cookie Mom, and Swim Team Fee Collector. She also found personal satisfaction in her daily reading of the Wall Street Journal and mastering the Houston Chronicle’s daily bridge hand. Quite naturally during the childhood years of their three children, Charles Jr. Bob, and Sandie, Arlene’s main focus was their care and activities. One of her favorite activities was planning trips to their Colorado and Muldoon, Texas “Patches” where she could be found learning to ride trail motorcycles. The Mullins family has since expanded to include four grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and two more greats on the way. Throughout their 70 years of marriage, Arlene and Chuck’s homes in the Washington area, Germany, and Houston had frequently been the sites for entertaining colleagues and friends from around the world—so much so that medical fellows call her Auntie Arlene. By relieving her husband of administrative details inherent in his profession and world-wide consultant trips, Arlene found her satisfaction in knowing her endeavors allowed Chuck more time for his commitment to medicine. She considered herself privileged to have had a front-row seat while watching thirty-six years of Pediatric-Cardiology develop on the world stage. Arlene is preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Mullins and is survived by their sons Charles Jr. and Robert, daughter Sandie, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service celebrating Arlene’s life will be held Friday April 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079.

Arlene S. Mullins

May 31, 1930 - April 14, 2026