By Mary Lu Listermann
Enquirer staff writer

MORNINGVIEW - Larry T. Mullins' family expected him to come home from the hospital Tuesday and was preparing for his return.

His wife Janice had even spoken with him on the phone for a half hour Monday morning. But later that day, she received a phone call from St. Elizabeth Medical Center, in Edgewood, telling her that her husband had died. After 10 long years of illness and going to dialysis three times a week, Mr. Mullins died, at 63, of kidney and heart failure.

The memories of a determined, caring man with a heart for coaching lives on.

Mr. Mullins began coaching his daughter Paula's softball team 33 years ago and continued coaching until recently when his illness worsened. His son, Matthew Mullins, said his father was a good coach whose teams won trophies and plaques.

"He wouldn't let me slack off, and I couldn't miss practices. He was there rain or shine...and so was I." Matthew said, "After every game, win or lose, my father would take the team for slush puppies and hot dogs. At the end of the season he treated the whole team to pizza."

Mr. Mullins was involved with the Taylor Mill Boosters, Piner Boosters and South Kenton Football. If he wasn't coaching softball, baseball, or football, he was working in the concessions stand, keeping the record books for the basketball team and giving support wherever it was needed.

"I think what amazed me the most was his determination to be there for the athletes, no matter how he was feeling. He would go directly to the game from dialysis, which was very tiring. I admired that," his wife said.

Mr. Mullins was preceded in death by his daughter Denise Mullins.

Survivors include his wife, Janice McMillan Mullins; two sons, Matthew and Robbie; three daughters, Christy Mullins, Melissa Campbell and Paula Jackson; his parents, Wilma and Marvin Mullins; one brother, Gary ; 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Services were Saturday at Wilmington Baptist Church in Fisksburg. Swindler & Currin Funeral Home in Independence handled arrangements. Burial is in Wilmington Cemetery in Fisksburg.

Memorials: Larry Mullins Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 15104, Covington, KY 41015