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Mullinax-70 Years
Their life together began after a small Texas town newspaper ran an article in 1944 listing all the local Morton boys who were overseas serving in World War II. Joy Webster’s girlfriend shared that paper with her, because there was a boy she knew from the article. On a dare from that friend, Joy ended up writing one of the young Army soldiers in that story because “he was really cute.” At 13 years old, Joy chose Murvin Mullinax as her wartime pen pal.
Letters to soldiers from home were welcome respite away from the daily battle crossing France toward Germany. Murvin was thankful for her letters talking about news from home and about her life. After a few letters, Murvin sent his picture and asked for one from her. Soon after, he received Joy’s photo and the romance by mail started. Joy wrote every day as Murvin marched toward Berlin. His unit, credited with the final shot in the war in Europe, was sent home for 30 days leave before shipping out for an imminent battle in Japan. Even though he survived one theatre of war and was about to head to the battle in the Pacific, he only thought of Joy.
As soon as he arrived stateside, he met with his oldest sister, Edith, in California. He showed her the picture declaring “that’s the girl I’m going to marry,” then hopped on a bus bound for Texas. He arrived at Joy’s home on July 6, 1945 and once they met in person, it changed their lives forever. She knew he was the one she wanted to marry, however, they had one hitch: they needed to get her father’s permission to marry. Murvin didn’t want to miss his chance to speak with her father a couple days later, catching him milking the cows the morning of Sunday, July 8. Joy’s father said yes and the pair were married that afternoon. A few weeks after being married, Murvin headed to Japan expecting to fight a ground war. While onboard a ship crossing the Pacific, the soldiers learned of Japan’s surrender and were ordered to one year of occupation.
He returned in 1946 and the couple took on their first (and short) adventure by becoming turkey farmers in Texas. They soon found out raising turkeys wouldn’t work out, and as a result packed their belongings and headed to Selah, Washington. They bought a little house and shortly after, along came their first son, Terry, followed by a daughter, Sherry, and another son, Kenny, in 1950. The family was settled and growing in their Selah home for many years to come.
Murvin’s career took off as a cement mason for United Builders, and Joy raised the kids and worked part time at the Wagon Wheel in Selah as a waitress and life rolled along. The family grew up enjoying weekends waterskiing at Rimrock Lake, salmon fishing in Westport and hunting every year on Cleman Mountain. Joy and Murvin helped shape the activities and memories their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to take part in and love today. Murvin and Joy celebrate 70 years together, sharing a life full of love and adventures. The couple, now blessed to have six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren running around their heels, all started with love letters to a “cute” Army Soldier and a Texas “Belle.”
![Mullinax-70 Years]()
Mullinax-70 Years
Dave and Gail Myllenbeck of Yakima are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Heather Myllenbeck to Dan Wachtler, son of Bill and Ingrid Wachtler of Gig Harbor. Heather graduated from the University of Washington and teaches at The Bear Creek School in Redmond. Dan graduated from the University of Washington and is a partner in Wachtler Marshall Inc, general contractors in Kirkland. Heather and Dan will be married August 23, 2014 in Seattle.
