Dr. William Linck Mullan Jr.

Dr. William (Bill) Linck Mullan, Jr., V.M.D., of Clinton Township, Mich., passed away at home on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, surrounded by loved ones, after a lengthy illness. He was 91.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and veterinarian, Bill lived a life marked by professional excellence, deep affection for family and a gift for humor that drew people to him.

In 1966, Bill founded Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital in Warren, Mich., where he built a respected career caring for animals and the people who loved them. Outside of his practice, he found joy on the water. He was an avid sailor on Lake St. Clair, often aboard his beloved sailboat, Moon River, and a frequent traveler to Cudjoe Key, Fla., where he loved boating, fishing, snorkeling and wearing his favorite “SSDD” T-shirt. He spent so much time in the sun that some clients, when calling to make appointments for their pets, would ask specifically for “the tan doctor.”

Bill expressed love and friendship in his own memorable way - through humor, thoughtful conversation and the companionship of cocktail hour. He favored a vodka gimlet or bourbon and water, the latter also being the name of his first powerboat. His children will always remember his affection, family trips to the shore in the RV and his unwavering commitment to correcting their grammar.

Bill was born on March 8, 1935, in Philadelphia, to William and Grace Mullan, the second of three children. He graduated from Abington Senior High School in Abington, Pa., in 1953, where he was a member of the swim team. He went on to attend Pennsylvania State University for pre-veterinary studies before earning his Veterinary Medical Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1959. He was inducted into the Society of Phi Zeta, the national honor society for veterinary medicine. He also served eight years in the U.S. Navy Reserve at Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, Pa., and received an honorable discharge in May 1960.

After veterinary school, Bill completed an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston from July 1959 through October 1960. He then moved to Michigan with his young family to accept a position at Gasow Veterinary Hospital in Birmingham. During that time, he also volunteered his veterinary services at the Detroit Kennel Club Dog Show. Before opening his own practice, he also worked at Harper Woods Veterinary Hospital in Harper Woods, Mich.

Bill earned the respect of colleagues throughout the veterinary profession through both his skill and leadership. In 1976, Gov. William G. Milliken appointed him to the State Board of Veterinary Examiners, where he served until 1984, twice as chairman. He also played an active role in the Southeastern Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, serving as its president in 1973.

Bill is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marie; his children, Wendy (Dennis) Olah of Royal Oak, Mich., Gregory (Beth) Mullan of Mason, Ohio, and William Mullan III of South Lyon, Mich.; his stepsons, Gary (Jamie) Capaldi of Warren, Mich., Ralph (Kathy) Capaldi of Chesterfield Township, Mich., and Mario (Tania) Capaldi of Macomb Township, Mich.; and his stepdaughter, Debra (David) Vanderhyde of Newaygo, Mich. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by his older sister, Elizabeth (Rev. Richard) Ringenwald of Riverside, N.J.; his sister-in-law, Salli-Ann Mullan of Windham, N.H.; as well as five nieces and nephews and seven grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Marti Rudick of Sarasota, Fla.; his son, Scott Mullan of Oxford, Mich.; and his brother, Robert K. Mullan of East Hanover, N.J.

Bill will be cremated, and his family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Michigan Humane Society in his memory.