THOMAS R. (BOB) TULL, D.O.
Particulars:
• Age: 94 Birthdate: August 31, 1917 Birthplace: Galva, Illinois
• Date and Place of Death: December 7, 2011, Sanctuary at Bellbrook, Rochester Hills, MI
EDUCATION AND CAREER
• Osteopathic Physician (D.O.)
• Graduate of Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine - 1941
• Internship at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital - 1941-1942
• Residency OB/Gyne Chicago Osteopathic Hospital 1942-1946 (4 years)
• Clinical professor at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine through 1951
• Certified in OB/Gyne and Fellow in College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
• Undergraduate education - Illinois Wesleyan University
FAMILY HISTORY
• Ran track in High School and college - was a Pole Vaulter (says his bad shoulders later in life were the result of too many landings on the asphalt next to the mats);
• Married September 3, 1944 to Jean Loutrell Lishness (of Lapeer, MI), whom he met while a clinical professor at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Three of their children were born in Chicago, IL, Pamela Sue (‘46), Cynthia Lee (‘48) and Douglas Alan (‘51). Two were born in Detroit, Michigan, Steven Craig (‘52) and Thomas Ward (‘55).
• Moved to Michigan, fall of 1951 after birth of third child (first son) to Lapeer, MI where they stayed until Bob established his practice in OB/Gyne at both Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital with office in Berkley, MI. That same year, they bought a house in Royal Oak. Eventually he moved his practice and office to Bi-County Osteopathic Hospital in Warren, MI.
• Bob, Jean and family lived in Royal Oak, MI (111 Aqua Court) for 5 years and then moved to Beverly Hills, MI, to a much larger home for such a large family in 1956 (18161 Riverside Drive).
• They moved their church membership from the Methodist Church of Royal Oak (where son, Tom and wife Kip still belong and are active), to the First Congregational Church of Birmingham when they moved to Beverly Hills.
• They invested in Grand Traverse Resort in its early years as a limited partner and eventually bought a condo in the first sets of condos built on the old course at the resort. That condo served as a well deserved respite from the ardors of his OB/Gyne practice.
• Bob loved to snow ski. He and family joined Kandahar Ski Club in metro Detroit for local skiing, but he always loved going “up north” to ski - often staying in either Kalkaska (for Boyne Mountain) or Petoskey (for Boyne Highlands or Nubs Nob). He also enjoyed skiing “out West” and he continued skiing until he was 85! He much preferred snow and cold in the winter, to the warmer climates in Florida.
• Upon his retirement in 1985, Bob and Jean moved to their condo at the Grand Traverse Resort, however that was not long lived, as he could not get used to not having a lawn and grounds to take care of - nor could he adjust to a one car garage only slightly larger than the car that he parked there and Jean had difficulty with the third floor location and no elevator.
• Within a year (1986), he and Jean moved to their final home in the Bay East Village Subdivision on Mission Peninsula. The home was perfect for them with a first floor master bedroom and a fully completed lower floor for their children and grandchildren (and eventually great grandchildren), when they visited. Bob and Jean became members of the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City soon after their move to Traverse City.
• Never one to sit around once he had retired to Traverse City, Bob tried his hand at real estate, and eventually as a volunteer at the Traverse City Welcome Center. He remained active in the Golden K Kiwanis Club the entire time he lived in Traverse City.
• After Jean passed away in 1997, he became best friends with Betty Briner, who had been a student of his (along with his eventual wife, Jean) and who, along with her DO Husband, Don, had retired to a home on the west bay side of Mission Peninsula, 10 minutes from his house. (Interesting side note, Betty Briner had been in Bob and Jean’s wedding in Chicago, in 1945!). Betty had lost her husband two years earlier and so they enjoyed each others company for almost 10 years, before Betty had to move to Lansing for health reasons.
• Bob then became companions with Phyllis Peacock, whose husband, a fellow Kiwanian, had passed a few years earlier. Phyllis lives also on Mission Peninsula, not 5 minutes from Bob’s house. Bob and Phyllis enjoyed each others company and families for the balance of Bob’s life in Traverse City.
• Bob was an avid reader - and very much followed current events (albeit as broadcast on the fair and balanced Fox News!). He was probably the only senior citizen in Traverse City who had a “Repeal Obamacare” bumper sticker on his trusty Buick Century (which was one way to distinguish his tan Buick Century from many others to be found in TC)((also the only one with a red ribbon tied to the antennae)).
• Bob loved the neighborhood in Bay East Village Sub - and was often seen outside - even at 93 and 94, trimming bushes and building his “burn pile” in the summer, and plowing his snow in the winter. He was blessed with good neighbors who cared for him as much as he did for them.
• Bob celebrated his 94th birthday on August 31, 2011. This summer many members of his family made trips to visit with him - weekly, it seemed - he loved having his family there, but it did wear him out.
• Ultimately shortly after his 94th birthday he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a blood disorder which impaired his ability to produce healthy red blood cells - his symptom was shortness of breath. He spent three stays in Munson Medical Center from mid September to mid October, 2011 - his family, most in the metro Detroit area, stayed with him through these trying times.
• After Bob’s last visit to Munson Hospital, his sons drove him to Sanctuary at Bellbrook in Rochester Hills. Continuing health issues, eventually resulted in a willing determination to enter Hospice with Mercy Hospice at Sanctuary at Bellbrook.
BOB’S FAMILY:
• Adopted son of Thomas Hatfield Tull - a Methodist minister in Illinois - and Nancy (Towell) Tull.
He and Jean produced a family as follows:
• Pamela Sue Bowling (Venice FL/Silverthorne, Colorado)
• Cynthia Lee Noggle (Oxnard, CA/Sun City AZ)
• Douglas A. Tull (of Rochester Hills, MI)
• Steven C. Tull (deceased, 12-7-2007)
• Thomas W. Tull (of Southfield, MI)
He is survived by 14 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren, as well as 1 niece with 2 “grandchildren”, as follows:
• Pamela Sue Bowling (Gerald W.) (Venice, FL/Silverthorne, CO)
• Amy Batley (Blake) of Atlanta, Georgia
• Clay Batley
• Reese Batley
• Sloane Batley
• Andrew Bowling (Heather) of Nashville Tennessee
• Kate and Abby Bowling (twins)
• Rachel Bowling
• Cynthia Lee Noggle (Jim) (Oxnard, CA/Sun City, AZ)
• Kristin Wilson (William) of Canton, MI
• Caleb Wilson
• Kevin Lyon (Michelle) of Fort Collins, CO
• Jacey Lyon
• Jessup Lyon
• Douglas Alan Tull (Janet) (Rochester Hills, MI)
• Robert Tull (Kristin) of Troy, MI
• Josephine (Josie) Tull
• Christopher Tull (Jackie) of Rochester Hills, MI
• Grace (Gracie) Tull
• Elizabeth (Ellie) Tull
• Jonathan Tull of Rochester Hills
• Steven Craig Tull (deceased 12-7-07), ex-spouse (Joyce) (Troy, MI)
• Stephanie Tull of Los Angeles, CA
• Katherine Tull of Los Angeles, CA
• Sara Tull of Troy, MI
• Laura Tull of Troy, MI
• Thomas Ward Tull (Kip) (Southfield, MI)
• Thomas Jay (T Jay) Tull (Anne) of Seattle, WA
• Ryan Spencer Tull of Southfield, MI
• Nolan Tull
• Kira Kurth Tull of East Lansing, MI
• Karen Sue Swarbrick (Jeff) of Oakland Township, MI (Jean’s sister’s daughter - “Uncle Bob”).
• Justin Swarbrick (Gretchen) of Rochester Hills, MI
• Kendall Swarbrick of Holland, MI
SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE:
• CELEBRATION OF LIFE at the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, 701 Winchester, Traverse City - for friends and family on Saturday, December 17, 2011 starting at 1 p.m. Family visitation starts at noon. Reverend Becky Chamberlain; refreshments served at the church following.
• Family Interment with private service at Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak, later winter or early spring 2012, to be determined.
• In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob and Jean Tull’s memory (P.E.O. Chapter EV) to:
P.E.O. Scholar Award
P.E.O. Executive Office
3700 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
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