BEDFORD — Perry E. Mullis, a dedicated businessman and prominent civic leader, passed away at 6:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Stonebridge Health Campus. He was 91.
Born on April 5, 1933, in Springville, Indiana, Mullis was the son of Everett and Mildred Viola (McDowell) Mullis. A graduate of Bedford High School, class of 1950, Mullis would leave an indelible mark on the Bedford community through business and public service.
In 1950, he married Elsie Kathryn Gerkin, his high school sweetheart. The couple shared nearly 65 years of marriage before Elsie’s passing in 2015. Together, they built a life of faith, service, and hard work. Mullis founded Mullis Petroleum in 1954 and also operated Mullis Distributors, a business he successfully ran for nearly 70 years, with October marking what would have been its milestone anniversary.
Mullis was a lifelong member of the Bedford Free Methodist Church, where he was active as a Sunday School teacher and youth leader. He also served his community through leadership roles, including as past president of the Bedford Lions Club and the North Lawrence School Board.
His civic contributions were widely recognized. In 1966, Mullis was selected as Bedford’s Outstanding Young Man, and in 1973, he was elected president of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce. Mullis was instrumental in the creation of the North Lawrence schools, serving on the school board for several terms. He was also one of the founding members of the Bedford North Lawrence Scholarship Foundation, where he served on the board for 50 years.
Mullis received numerous accolades throughout his lifetime, including being included in the Book of Golden Deeds in 1982 and receiving the Chamber Community Service Award in 1990 for his extraordinary dedication to Bedford’s development.
Perry E. Mullis leaves a legacy of community service, faith, and dedication to Bedford. His contributions to education, business, and civic life will be remembered for generations.
