Thomas King Bullen, of Clarkston, died peacefully the evening of June 20 at the age of 89. He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 70 years, Sally Bullen, who was a great comfort to him in his last hours.
Born January 26, 1935 in Lansing, Michigan, Tom was the only child of Richard and Isabel King Bullen. He spent his first few years of life on his grandparents’ farm in Mason, Michigan, and often went back to visit his grandparents throughout his childhood. Tom fondly remembered his time on the farm, and many of his earliest adventures there laid the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity and investigation.
As a toddler, Tom’s family moved to Clarkston, Michigan. During those formative years he excelled in both study and sport, and he became a record varsity letter winner at Clarkston High School.
After high school, Tom earned his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan, as well as playing one year of football for the Maize and Blue. Throughout a lifetime of endless learning, he would also earn his designation as a Certified Public Accountant, and his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University. Tom also had a varied and accomplished professional life. He began his career as an accountant for Arthur Young, a job that took him and his family to various locations around the Midwest. He eventually made his way back home to Clarkston and became the CFO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Tom’s final professional stop was back in Clarkston, as an attorney for Cooney Campbell Law Firm.
Tom was proud of his various academic, professional, community, and leisure achievements which included co-founding the Independence Land Conservancy, which has evolved to become Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy, and for which the annual “Tom Bullen Award” is awarded as a continuation of Tom’s dedication to preserving nature for future generations. Tom also enjoyed writing poetry and conducting exhaustive genealogy research for his family. Of all Tom’s achievements, nothing brought him a more complete sense of pride than the legacy of his family. As an only child who always wanted a large family, he and Sally built a family of their own. His family – 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren (and growing) – was his greatest triumph, and he and Sally would often sit at family gatherings, smiling, taking in all they had accomplished.
Thomas King Bullen lived a complete life, diverse in his endeavors, surrounded by those he loved. In his own words, “he never stopped working at everything he undertook, of endless variety.”
Thomas King Bullen is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Isabel King Bullen, and his son, John Bullen.
He is survived by his Wife, Sally Bullen; his daughter, Linda Downs (Stephen), and their sons: Thomas Downs (Jamie) and their children, Jackson, Delaney, Ian, Nathaniel, and Malanae; Wesley Downs (Andrea) and their children, Alexander and Claire; Matthew Downs and his children Livie, Juniper, and Willem; his son, Benjamin Bullen and his children: Benjamin Bullen (Allysia) and their children, Theodore and Elliot; Sarah Bullen; Samual Bullen; the children of the late John Bullen: Emily Senykr (Cody); Thomas Bullen; Diana Bullen; his daughter Julia Maier (Christopher) and their children: Nichole Montgomery (James) and their daughter, Madelyn; John Maier (Elizabeth); his daughter Sandra Matich (Kirk) and their children: Nicholas Matich (Jacquelyn) and their daughter, Mackenzie; Adam Matich; Amber Matich.
Family invites visitation at Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home on Monday, July 1 from 12 p.m. to 1. Funeral service is immediately following at 1 p.m. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery. Donations may be made to Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy or Defeat Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) at www.defeatmsa.org, which is the rare, neurodegenerative disorder that affected Tom’s beloved son, John, and for whom he devoted much of his later years lovingly caring for him as his disease progressed.
Please leave a memory or condolence on Tom’s online guest book at www.wintfuneralhome.com