The Life of COLLEEN GRACE PULLIAM
Colleen G. Pulliam, 75, died Friday April 20, 2012n at her daughter’s home in Des Moinesn after a four-year bout with ovarian cancer. She was born March 29, 1937, to Gerald and Grace (Copic) Turner in Des Moines, joining her only sister and life-long pal, Geraldine, to complete their family. After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1955, she met a young Army draftee from Muscatine that her family hosted while he awaited induction. She married Jack A. Pulliam, Sr., in 1957, and they were inseparable until his death in July of 2010.
Though she worked several jobs in Des Moines over the course of her life, her true vocation was to be a wife, mother and grandmother. She served that role for many children who were not her own, both as a care provider in her home and as a Sunday school teacher and youth leader at Clifton Heights Presbyterian Church, where she was a member all her life until its recent closing. She was also a proud alumnus and PTA President of Washington Elementary School, and late in her life took up the game of basketball as a solid role-player for the State Champion Hot Pink Grannies.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 52 years, Jack, Sr., and her brother-in-law, David Cross. She is survived by her dear sister, Geraldine Cross; sister-in-law, Jane Norwood and her husband, Charlie; her four children, Jack, Jr. (Sue), Gerald (Jan), Kimberly Wilhelm (John), and David (Brooke); her grandchildren, Cindy McMullen (James), Hillary Alexander (Shawn), Emily Camps (Jeff), Joel, Taylor, Laney and Nick; three great-grandchildren, Josie, Jackson, and Chase; nieces, Lori Cross, Pam Johnson (Ric), Debra Pratt (Bill), Teri Cross, Melinda Norwood, and Marchelle Norwood; nephew, Jason Norwood; and other extended family.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, followed by burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home.
Colleen was a tiny woman with a giant heart. She spent her life giving to others and now we give her back to God.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
