Ulysses "Papa" Owen McLean, Sr.

MCLEAN SR., Ulysses Owen, 90, of Mechanicsville, departed this life on Friday, July 4, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Owen McLean and Zephyr Millie Storie; his sister, Hazel Norma Henshaw; his son, Ulysses Owen McLean, Jr.; his son-in-law, John Steven Thulin; his grandson, Andrew Hyrum Thulin; and his great-grandson, Jason Malec. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Mary Rachel McLean; his siblings, Mary Joan Mann, Doris Marlene Walker, Evelyn Claudine Rudd, Harold Grant McLean, Linda Gayle Dean, and Roger Thomas McLean; his children, Esther Frances Thulin, Rachel Ellen Carlise (Randy Landers), Lynn Paul McLean (Marian), Roland Eric McLean, Sr. (Robin), Mary Susan Merica, Joseph Ivey McLean (Doreen), and Donald Eugene McLean (Cecelia); twenty-five grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren. Ulysses proudly served in the United States Marine Corps 26 years, retiring in 1979 as a Master Gunnery Seargeant.  During his years of service, he had too many assignments to list, but he greatly enjoyed working with individuals in the Addiction Recovery Program and assisting young men become Marines as a Drill Instructor at Paris Island. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Throughout the years, he served in whatever way he was asked including being the Bishop of the Mechanicsville Ward and traveling to Tappahannock for 3 years to serve in their Branch Presidency.  He had an unfailing testimony of the love of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ which he frequently shared with others, especially his family. He never met a stranger and spoke to everyone.  He had a great love for his family. When his first grandchild arrived, he became loving know as “Papa”.  Through the years, Granny and Papa tirelessly went to all of the grandchildren’s events and later great-grandchildren.  Papa was the biggest kid of the lot when the grandchildren went to Kings Dominion riding everything with them. He never missed a chance to give a bear hug & say, “I love you”.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Parkway, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8005 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 with a family interment immediately following at Wooddy Perrin Family Cemetery.

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