Visitation will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.
He was born on September 17, 1926, the 10th of 12 children born to Nathan F and Effie B Tullos. He was married to Glenda Smith of Edinburg, Mississippi on July 11, 1953. Three children were born to this union.
He is survived by Glenda, wife of 64 years; daughter, Deborah Cook (Willard) Fort Worth TX; son, Wyatt Tullos Jr (Holly) Newton MS; five grandchildren: Belinda Cook Welch (Jon) Dallas TX; Marilyn Tullos, Newton MS; Josie Tullos, Newton MS; Erin Tullos, Newton MS and Wyatt Tullos, III Newton MS. Step-Grandchildren: Beth Cook Gunalda (Jeremy) Madison MS; Drew Cook Fort Worth TX; Sarah Cook Ball (Denny) Palm Beach Gardens FL; four great-grandchildren: Josie, Karris and Dorsey Gunalda Madison MS and Rylee Ball Palm Beach Gardens FL; brother, Claud “Doc” Tullos Bartlett TN, sisters in law, Lorraine Tullos, Florence KY; Dean Tullos Union MS; Delphine Thornton Clinton MS; Katherine Huffman (Frank) Petal MS; Frances Chipley (Tommy) Carthage MS and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding him in death: father, Nathan F Tullos; mother, Effie B Tullos; daughter, Sandra M Tullos; sisters, Sara Skinner, Enid Kissling and brothers, Carl, Oben, Enos, Lias, Zane, Loyd, Rolf, Temp Sr.
He was a wonderful father who supported, advised and counseled his children to be educated and choose a profession. His daily prayer was for each of them to “be of service to God and our fellow man.” He mentored his son, Wyatt Jr, to follow his father’s footsteps in teaching and coaching young people. He supported his daughter, Deborah, as she became a physician. He was a fantastic grandfather who loved, adored, and ministered to young ones advising them to “put God first in all future plans.”
His hobbies included fishing, camping, and gardening. He grew numerous awesome Better Boy Tomatoes and many other vegetables. He had 2 pecan trees that he harvested, shelled, and preserved every year. He and Glenda travelled to all 50 states.
He graduated County Line High School, Newton/Neshoba County in 1944. He worked in Memphis TN at a tire manufacturing company for one year before enlisting in military service. He served in US Army Air Force 26th Fighter Squadron 1946-47 as a Parachute Rigger & Repairman in U.S occupied Okinawa after WWII. He was awarded Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Marksmanship Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After military service, he returned to East Central Junior College in Decatur MS 1947-49 where he received basketball scholarship. From 1949-51, he attended Mississippi Southern College (now USM) in Hattiesburg where, on basketball scholarship, he played with the “Cinderella Kids” for the legendary Coach Lee Floyd. In 1951, he received BS Degree in Education. He worked and served as teacher, coach, and school administrator for 39 years, including:
St Martin HS (Jackson County) Spring 1952
Edinburg HS (Leake County) Fall 1952- Spring 1954
Rose Hill HS (Jasper County) 1954-55
Johnson Station (Pike County) 1955-56
West Lincoln HS (Lincoln County) 1956-61 where he coached the B-BB State Runner-Up boys’ basketball team in 1960-61.
During those 10 years, he continued his education and obtained his Masters Degree in Education Administration.
He served in Bassfield MS from 1961-67. He became Principal over Grades K-12 in January 1962 and continued coaching basketball through 1963-64 school year. He continued to serve as principal at Bassfield through December, 1967.
He served as principal at Decatur High School from January 1968-December 1969.
In 1970, he became Supervisor of Driver Education for State of MS Department of Education. He retired in 1990.
Since moving to Clinton in 1970, he has been a member of First Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School teacher of 6th grade boys for several years and enjoyed participating in Adult Sunday School and Church Fellowship activities.
He coached YMCA youth boys basketball teams and supported local summer league baseball, high school basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed attending local and statewide high school and college boys and girls basketball tournaments and baseball games.
Thank you to Doctors and Nurses at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, St Dominic Heart Center, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, University of MS Medical Center, Stay Home Health and Covenant Caregivers, City of Clinton Fire and Police Departments for aid and assistance in caring for him over the past year.
Serving as Pall Bearers will be Steve Bonner, Terry Tullos, Jimmy Tullos, Bobby Tullos, Bobby Thornton, Phil Thornton, Steve Chipley, Randy Smith, Jimmy Smith, Tim Brown, Guy Odom.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Gateway Rescue Mission in Jackson MS and American Red Cross.
Please visit lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for online guestbook.
