Major Tommy Ray (Ret) Mueller
August 19, 1937 — September 1, 2013
Major (Ret.) Tommy Ray Mueller 76 of Midland, Ga. died Sunday, September 01, 2013 after a long 23-year fight with cancer.
A graveside service with military honors will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 06, 2013 at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Major (Ret.) Mueller was born August 19, 1937 in Cincinnati, OH to the late Gordon L.K. Mueller and Pearl Davis Mueller. He was raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He graduated from Highlands High School and then attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1962 at which time he was commissioned into the US Army. He retired from the United States Army with 21 years of service. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict serving two tours and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group and the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1982 he was assigned Chief of Service Rifle Branch Army Marksmanship Unit, where the USAMU won the National Trophy Match and the Infantry Trophy Match. During his years of service he received numerous medals and commendations including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
After his retirement from the military, he became the Senior Army Instructor at Columbia High School where he took the rifle team to the 1986 Florida State ROTC Rifle Championships. In 1988 he became the US Army Forces Command Marksmanship coordinator where he worked against the abolishment of the MTU's, helped secure the funding for the Poole Range Complex at Fort Benning, and successfully defended the Forces Command position to retain a 7.62mm medium machine gun for the Army.
Major (Ret.) Mueller was a member of the National Rifle Association, National Bass Anglers Association, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, a captain of the University of Kentucky Rifle Team, and was an avid UK basketball fan. He also served as the President of the Rifle and Pistol Club of Fort Benning for 16 years.
Tommy was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Stahl Mueller, and brother Gordon L. Mueller Jr.
Survivors include his daughter, Karen Jean Mueller of Midland, GA, son, Karl Raymond Mueller and his wife Jessica Lea Mueller of Virginia Beach, VA, sister, Ann Mueller Quehl and her husband Richard of Cincinnati, OH, three grandchildren, Cole Grayson Mueller, Lauren Grace Mueller, Cason Landen Mueller, and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. Gregory M. Rucker, Dr. Wilbur B. Bassett, Jr., Staci Ault, RN and all the nurses and staff of the John B. Amos Cancer Center for their kind and caring treatment during Tommy's long battle with Chronic Leukemia (Myelofibrosis). We also acknowledge and thank the staff of the Medical Center ER and 7ICU for our father's end of life care. Special thanks to Wayne (Charlie) Fairbairn, Jennifer Gaylor Vaughn, the Coiner family, the Beaver Run Bridge Club, and all our friends and family for all your devoted time helping care for our family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center P.O. Box 790 Columbus, Georgia 31901 or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society P.O. Box 4072 Pittsfield, MA 01202, www.lls.org in memory of Major (Ret.) Tommy Ray Mueller.
A graveside service with military honors will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 06, 2013 at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Major (Ret.) Mueller was born August 19, 1937 in Cincinnati, OH to the late Gordon L.K. Mueller and Pearl Davis Mueller. He was raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He graduated from Highlands High School and then attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1962 at which time he was commissioned into the US Army. He retired from the United States Army with 21 years of service. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict serving two tours and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group and the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1982 he was assigned Chief of Service Rifle Branch Army Marksmanship Unit, where the USAMU won the National Trophy Match and the Infantry Trophy Match. During his years of service he received numerous medals and commendations including the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
After his retirement from the military, he became the Senior Army Instructor at Columbia High School where he took the rifle team to the 1986 Florida State ROTC Rifle Championships. In 1988 he became the US Army Forces Command Marksmanship coordinator where he worked against the abolishment of the MTU's, helped secure the funding for the Poole Range Complex at Fort Benning, and successfully defended the Forces Command position to retain a 7.62mm medium machine gun for the Army.
Major (Ret.) Mueller was a member of the National Rifle Association, National Bass Anglers Association, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, a captain of the University of Kentucky Rifle Team, and was an avid UK basketball fan. He also served as the President of the Rifle and Pistol Club of Fort Benning for 16 years.
Tommy was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Stahl Mueller, and brother Gordon L. Mueller Jr.
Survivors include his daughter, Karen Jean Mueller of Midland, GA, son, Karl Raymond Mueller and his wife Jessica Lea Mueller of Virginia Beach, VA, sister, Ann Mueller Quehl and her husband Richard of Cincinnati, OH, three grandchildren, Cole Grayson Mueller, Lauren Grace Mueller, Cason Landen Mueller, and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. Gregory M. Rucker, Dr. Wilbur B. Bassett, Jr., Staci Ault, RN and all the nurses and staff of the John B. Amos Cancer Center for their kind and caring treatment during Tommy's long battle with Chronic Leukemia (Myelofibrosis). We also acknowledge and thank the staff of the Medical Center ER and 7ICU for our father's end of life care. Special thanks to Wayne (Charlie) Fairbairn, Jennifer Gaylor Vaughn, the Coiner family, the Beaver Run Bridge Club, and all our friends and family for all your devoted time helping care for our family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center P.O. Box 790 Columbus, Georgia 31901 or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society P.O. Box 4072 Pittsfield, MA 01202, www.lls.org in memory of Major (Ret.) Tommy Ray Mueller.
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