Retired Judge Robert McMullen dies at 86

Retired Common Pleas Judge Robert B. McMullen, Jr. has died.

Judge McMullen, 86, passed away Thursday, April 10.

McMullen had served as Municipal Court Judge for six years and as Common Pleas Court Judge for 13 and a half years. Upon earning his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University in 1957, he returned to Hillsboro to practice law with his father and remained in private law practice for over 30 years. He was one of 50 U.S judges selected to attend a course on law at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

A Hillsboro High School graduate, McMullen entered the United States Navy upon graduation and served on the Johnston and the Wilson (destroyers) as a radar operator. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended the Ohio State University and Otterbein College and worked in a furniture store, sold insurance and worked on a surveying crew before entering law school.

Highland County Democratic Party chairperson Dinah Phillips said she worked with Judge McMullen for about 10 years, calling it "my pleasure to do so."

"He was absolutely an incredible gentleman, a great judge and wonderful to work for," Phillips said.

Phillips said that McMullen specialized in probate law but was "great" as a practicing attorney, as Municipal Court judge and as Common Pleas Court judge.

"He was always fair and honorable in all of his decisions," Phillips said.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss also praised McMullen's "fairness and patience."

Coss said that he knew McMullen for over 50 years and worked as a paperboy for McMullen in junior high school.

"He was one of those people I really looked up to," Judge Coss said. "He was a tremendous help to me as a young lawyer.

"I really respected his fairness, patience and willingness to give careful consideration to everything in making decisions. He was a tremendous man and a tremendous pillar to the community, and he'll be sorely missed."

Judge McMullen was a past president of the Hillsboro Rotary Club, a member of all bodies of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the American Legion and a member of the board of trustees for Chatfield College (1984-1989). He served as a deacon and an elder in Hillsboro’s First Presbyterian Church and sang in the church choir for over 30 years. He was also a member of the barbershop chorus and a barbershop quartet. He was a member of the Emmaus Community and belonged to a sharing group. Judge McMullen was a member of the Highland County Bar Association (past president), Ohio Bar Association, American Bar Association and the American Judicature Association.

Phillips praised McMullen's long history of service to the community, especially the Presbyterian Church.

"He was a real credit to the community," Phillips said. "He was a real community-minded person and one of those people who was always active in community affairs as well as the legal community."

Phillips called McMullen "a true friend to the community as well as the Democratic Party."

"He not only served, but served with distinction and with honor, and the Democratic Party couldn't be more proud to count him as one of us," Phillips said.

Judge McMullen is survived by his wife of 62 and a half years, Kay Kenily McMullen; their three children, Colleen, Molly and Bob; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, April 14 at the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro. The Rev. Maurice Mitchell will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in the Hillsboro Cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at the Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Masonic services will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. following visitation.