Obituary: John Francis ‘Fran’ Mullen

Upper Ohio River aficionado and photographer John Francis “Fran” Mullen, 84, of Gallipolis, Ohio, died February 14, following a recent diagnosis of leukemia.

He was born in the upper Ohio River town of Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, on July 19, 1941, but lived his adult life along the Ohio River at Gallipolis, Ohio.

Although he never worked on the river, he was fascinated by it at an early age and became quite a proficient towboat photographer, amassing a large volume of color slides, beginning in the early 1960s, before switching to digital a couple of decades ago. Many were taken from his home overlooking the Ohio River at Mile 280.6 and have appeared numerous times in The Waterways Journal and Inland River Record.

Mullen was a good friend of the late IRR editor Dan Owen and served as one of Owen’s river “spies” for more than 50 years. He was also able to accumulate a complete library of Inland River Records, including the highly coveted inaugural 1945 edition with a bonus personal inscription from the original editor, Capt. Fred Way.

Retiring IRR editor Capt. Jeff L. Yates said he relied extensively on Mullen’s ability to research various databases to help identify vessels and establish or confirm obscure ownership and name changes or fill in gaps in listing information and to provide obscure photos for inclusion in the book’s foreword.

Mullen was very active in the Elks organization, where he served as Exulted Ruler of the Gallipolis Lodge #107 and later president of the Ohio State Elks Association before eventually serving as a committee member in the National Elks Association Grand Lodge.

Following an Elks memorial service, a traditional family memorial was scheduled for February 21 at McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, 420 First Ave., Gallipolis, Ohio. A celebration of life was to follow at 7 pm at the Elks Lodge.

Mullen is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathleen “Kathy” Mullen, his daughter, Gayla Mullen-Chinchic, his son, Wesley Mullen, and several grandchildren.