Obituary of F. Thomas Mueller

F. Thomas Mueller, 89, of Applewood Estates, Freehold Township died Sunday, October 15, 2006 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Irvington, had resided in Verona before moving to Hendersonville, N.C., and lived in Freehold Township for the past five years. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II and was discharged as a Petty Officer, 2nd Class. He served as a lieutenant in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department for 34 years before his retirement in 1988. After his retirement he was a captain in the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in Hendersonville for nine years. Mr. Mueller was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4374, Freehold Township; a life member of the International Narcotic Officers Association where he served as a board member for 27 years; and a graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep School, Newark and the U.S. Treasury School, Washington, D.C. He was cited with special honor awards for Outstanding Accomplishments in the field of narcotic law enforcement in 1986 in Washington, D.C. and in Albany, N.Y. in 1996. He was inducted into the Police Hall of Fame in April, 1988 and the Second Wind Hall of Fame in September, 1988. He had received citations from William J. Bennett and President George W. Bush. He was a State of New Jersey certified police instructor and had delivered over 2,320 lectures on narcotic abuse problems to religious, fraternal and professional organizations. He appeared on many radio and television panels, wrote and circulated drug abuse pamphlets throughout the United States and other countries, and wrote and produced a sound and color film on drug abuse. His wife, Betty Malone Mueller, died last year. A son, Tim Mueller, died in 1974. Surviving are a son, Robert Mueller, Olmstead, N.Y.; three grandchildren; a nephew Michael Malone and his wife, Sue; two nieces Mary Ann Evanoff and her husband Steven, and Eileen Reber; and a good friend, Joyce Gallagher and her son Nicholas. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Robert Bellarmine R.C. Church, Freehold Township on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. Memorial donations to the American Red Cross, Jersey Coast Chapter, 1540 W. Park Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 would be appreciated.