Arthur J. Mullen

Arthur J. Mullen, age 96, known to everyone who loved him simply as Woody, passed away peacefully on May 14th, 2026, at his home in Oakdale, New York. He lived a life defined by love for his family, his community, and his beloved Virginia, his soulmate of 71 years. He had the tattoo to prove it, and in the backyard of their Oakdale home sits a rock engraved with "Woody & Virginia Forever" that he engraved himself when they first moved in. It has been there ever since.

Woody started his family in Brooklyn before making the move out to Long Island, turning a house in Oakdale into something truly magical. He poured everything into that home and the people in it, digging a swimming pool in the backyard with his own hands (which became a koi pond in later years), and building his grandchildren a playground from scratch. He loved creating something out of nothing. When the kids were young, summers meant weekends out on the water at Hairy Island, a spot only locals know and one the family will never forget. As the years went on and the family grew, life at the Mullen house meant horseshoes and croquet on the lawn, pina coladas, burgers and hot dogs on the grill, and his old radio on the deck filling the air. Somewhere nearby, his singing fish was doing its thing, belting out "Take Me to the River" to the loving exasperation of everyone around it. He loved his summer parties, always showing up in a crazy hat, and he loved Johnny Cash. He and Virginia would dance together like the night had no end. Woody was a gifted storyteller too, and his tale of biking all the way from Brooklyn to Lake Ronkonkoma never got old, no matter how many times you heard it.

After a wonderful career with the MTA, Woody, Virginia, and their daughter Ginny made the drive down to Florida each winter for 20 years, where they built a whole other wonderful life as proud snowbirds, woven into their Florida community just as deeply as they were in Oakdale, full of friends, warmth, and easy living that suited them perfectly.

His favorite spot of all, though, was right next to Virginia. The two of them could often be found sitting together in their little two-seater swing in the backyard, watching the birds chirp, enjoying the quiet, and simply being together. Exactly where they wanted to be.

Woody is survived by his devoted wife, Virginia; his six children, Ginny, Joanne, Keith, Carolyn and her husband Mark, Marybeth and her husband Vinny, and Jimmy and his wife Samantha. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amanda, Ashley, Zachary, Ryan and his husband Patrick, Christopher and his wife Kelly, Nicole, and Taylor and her husband Jesse; and his great-grandchildren, Chase and Thomas. He was preceded in death by his beloved great-granddaughter, Caitlin.

Family will receive visitors on Monday, May 18th from 1 – 3 p.m. & 6 – 8 p.m. at Raynor & D’Andrea 683 Montauk Highway Bayport. A chapel service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Burial at Calverton National Cemetery to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospice would be appreciated.