Obituaries

Delphine Marie Mulvihill

Photo of Delphine Marie Mulvihill
Delphine King Gladden Mulvihill, 93, a resident of Fayetteville, passed away Friday, July 1, 2022, at the home of her daughter. She was born November 28, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, to William Browning and Delphine Marie Titus King. She was known by friends and family simply as Dee. She was raised in St. Louis, Mo., where she was a graduate of Villa Duchesne. She moved to Harrison, Ark., in 1951, after marrying Jean Carl Gladden, MD. In Harrison, where she raised her family, she was an excellent homemaker and mother. She was an active member of the Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Girls Scouts of America, Women's Book Club and Garden Club in Harrison. She enjoyed the outdoors and was known to float the Buffalo River in the spring when the river was up, after dropping her children off at school. Her love for Arkansas and the Razorbacks ran deep. She and Jean attended all the home Razorback football games, where they tailgated and made friends from across the state. She enjoyed traveling the world over, but always claimed Arkansas as her home. She made many friends through traveling and was proud to share Arkansas with them on their visits. She was a part-time resident in Vail, Colo., where she loved the mountains. She was a member of Vail Club 50, a social club where she enjoyed snow skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months and hiking in the summer. When picnicking before the Bravo Music Festival concerts at Ford Amphitheater, she always brought her famous deviled eggs to share with everyone who wanted one. When in Vail, she attended daily mass either at the Interfaith Chapel in Vail or St. Patrick's in Minturn. At the stores in town, she was known as the cookie lady, who baked cookies for the ski and bike rental employees. She was known by locals and restaurateurs for her friendliness, white hair, and someone who always dressed her best in every season. Jean died in 1994. Dee returned to St. Louis, marrying one of her high school beaus, Thomas Mulvihill, in 2003. When in St. Louis, she attended daily mass at the Carmalite Monastery, where she became friends with others that attended that mass. As the saying goes, "she never met a stranger" and had no problem making new friends anywhere she went. Dee loved to cook and feed people. She was a gourmet cook, who loved to try new recipes and have dinner parties. She loved bringing people together with food as the focal point. Her kitchen was her playground. Sewing was another one of her hobbies. She sewed many of their clothes, curtains, tablecloths and napkins. She liked needle pointing and made many needle point belts and pillows. When attending sporting events for her children, she would knit. She knitted many sweaters for herself and her family. Later in life, she would knit wool socks for all the men in the family. She supported the visual arts and performing arts over the years. Dee loved strategy games and taught them to her grandchildren at early ages, particularly Rummikub. Dee is preceded in death by her parents; her late husband, Jean C. Gladden; sons, King and Peter Gladden; and her stepfather, Jim Wesseling. She is survived by three daughters: Delphine (Paul) Williams of St. Louis, Mo., Jane Corrigan of Fayetteville, Ark., and Anne (Rick) Milburn of Harrison, Ark.; nine grandchildren: Emily (John) Greenway, Kevin (Amanda) Corrigan, Crystal (Adam) Wing, Will (Alex) Gladden, Peter (Sarah) Williams, Kate (Jack) Horan, Claire (Leslie) Froschauer, Mark Milburn, and Julie (Hunter) Lunsford; thirteen great-grandchildren: Anna Claire and Ellie Lambert, Cash Gager, Noah, Elizabeth and Caroline Wing, Joseph and Rachel Williams, Catherine, Seiler, and Sadie Corrigan, Kingsley Gladden, and Delphine Rose Horan. There will be a family conducted memorial mass at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022 at Mary Mother of God Catholic Church in Harrison, with the Rev. Benjamin Riley celebrating. Rosary will begin at 8:30 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Maplewood Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 22, at the Gladden family home at 2533 Highway 43 South, Harrison, Ark., 72601. Arrangements are under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel of Harrison, Ark. There will be a family conducted memorial service at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Spink Pavilion, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63110. In lieu of flowers, you may choose to make a donation to the Jean C. Gladden, M.D. and King Gladden Memorial Scholarship at UAMS College of Medicine, which was established to provide financial assistance to a medical student with financial need and who has an aptitude for working with people as demonstrated through volunteerism and community service. Please send donations to UAMS College of Medicine Scholarship Fund, 4301 West Markham #716, Little Rock, Ark., 72205, or giving.uams.edu. The online obituary and guestbook are available at: www.HoltChapel.com.

Published July 17, 2022

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