Robert W. Pullen Obituary (1919 - 2007)

Waterville Robert W. Pullen, 88 died Wed. Oct. 24, 2007 at his home in Waterville. A Danforth native, son of Horace M. and Marjorie A. Pullen, he graduated cum laude from Colby College in 1941. He earned a Ph. D degree in industrial economics at the Mass. Institute of Technology in 1949. While at M.I.T. he was awarded a fellowship from the Social Science Research Council to underwrite his pre-doctoral research. His teaching career included two years as a teaching fellow and instructor in economics at M.I.T., member of the Colby College faculty from 1945 until retirement in 1981, and summer teaching positions at Bowdoin College, Tufts University, and the University of Maine at Orono. He was chair of the Colby College Economics Dept. from 1964 to 1970. He was faculty representative on the Board of Trustees of Colby and was president of the Colby chapter of the American Assoc. of University Professors for two terms. He was a member and officer of the Colby chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Economic Assoc., and a charter member of the Industrial Relations Research Assoc. In 1970 - 1971 he served as administrative vice president of Colby College during the sabbatical leave of Prof. Ralph S. Williams. He succeeded Arthur W. Seepe, the retiring treasurer of the College, in 1972 and was appointed administrative vice president in 1973 upon the retirement of Vice Pres. Williams. He was secretary to the corporation for four years during his tenure as vice pres. He served on many faculty and college committees while an active teaching faculty member and later as a senior administrative officer. His long service to the college was recognized in 1971 when the Alumni Council presented him the Colby Brick Award. He retired from the college in 1981. Pullen was in earlier years an active member of the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, serving as a trustee and chair of the finance committee for many years. He was a trustee of Thayer Hospital and later of the Mid-Maine Medical Center, and was for a time a trustee and treasurer of the Good Will Home Assoc. and Hinckley School. He was a director of WCBB Broadcasting Co., Depositors Trust Co. of Augusta, and the New England Council. During 1960 - 1971, he served as a public member and for a time was chair of the Advisory Council of the Maine Employment Security Commission. In 1970 he was appointed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to serve on its Advisory Council on Truth-in\-Lending. He was also appointed by Gov. Curtis to his Advisory Committee on Business Taxation. Survivors include his two daughters, Susan A. Pullen of Belgrade and Susan's long-time partner, Susan Littlefield and Deborah P. Boucher of Worchester, MA and her husband, Richard and their two children, Bradley and Stephanie Boucher; his younger brother, Richard Pullen and his wife, Bobbi; four nieces and one nephew. He was pre-deceased in 1960 by his first wife, Mary the mother of his two daughters and an older brother, John Pullen and wife Edna. Survivors also include his wife, Marjorie D. Pullen; two step-daughters, Paula Bryand and Debora Warrington and husband Robert; five step-granddaughters and three step-grandsons. The family would like to extend its deepest thanks and appreciation to all of the loving caregivers who came into his and our lives over the last 15 months. Visiting hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2007 at the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat., Oct. 27, 2007 at the Pleasant Street Methodist Church, 61 Pleasant St., Waterville with Rev. Arlene Tully officiating. A luncheon in the church hall will follow services. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colby College Alumni Fund, Class of 1941, Mayflower Hill, Waterville. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------