John Bullen

John Earl Bullen, beloved husband and father, member of the Greatest Generation, and former naval aviator put out his hand and touched the face of God July 29, 2015. John was born in Somerset, Niagara County, New York on November 22, 1920. He was the only child of Elgie Bullen and Mary Pearl Rodgers Bullen. Following his graduation from high school in Detroit, John became employed as a machinist with the Cadillac Motor Car Company. In the months following Pearl Harbor the plant began to manufacture tanks and John enlisted in the United States Navy. He was commissioned as a pilot in 1943 and conducted anti-submarine operations off of Puget Sound. John eventually was transferred to the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station where he served as a patrol plane flight instructor. His pupils included future astronaut John Glenn and actor Tyrone Power. Following the war John served as an air navigation instructor at the CC NAS through his retirement from the civil service in 1976. John then entered a new chapter in his life as he became a small business owner in San Angelo, Texas. John often described his years in business as the happiest time of his life. Following the sale of his business in 1998, John retired to Corpus Christi where he resided for the remainder of his years. Although he never was a student at Texas A&M, John was an Aggie by heart. He loved visiting the campus and he regularly attended football games through his 80's, often driving alone to go to the games with his son. John was devoted to his cherished wife of 50 years, Betty Ruth Powell Bullen. He is also survived by his daughter, Barbara Bullen Walker and husband Ray and their children, Ivan Walker and wife Cindy, Heidi Walker, Jeremy Walker and wife Lori, and Chris Walker and wife Heather; son, Johnny Bullen; son, Arthur Bullen; son, Jeffrey Bullen and wife Rachel and their children Joshua Bullen, Jeremy Bullen, and Jonathan Bullen; step-daughter, Rhonda Read Turner and husband Steve and their children Steven Turner and wife Maggie and Alexis Turner Mian and husband Mark; step-daughter, Debby Read and daughter, Leigh Ann Bibbs Podschelne and husband Paul , step-daughter, Cindy Read Knorr and her children Jennifer Knorr Levinson and husband Jorel, and Melanie Knorr Streekstra and husband Eric; and Travis Knorr; special friend, Velma Garcia and her family. Great grandchildren include Mason Walker, Kayd Walker, Nick Wyndham Walker, Lily Walker, Anabelle Walker, Savannah Walker, Colton Walker, Matthew Podschelne, Emily Podschelne, Christian Podschelne, Sophie Levinson, Jeffrey Levinson, Robert Levinson, and Jasmine Streekstra. He is also survived by his cousin, Alta Bluhm. A memorial visitation with family will be held from 6-8 PM on Friday, July 31st at Sawyer George Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 1st at Robstown Memorial Park.