Frederic Fuller

Frederic Brooks “Fred” Fuller, of Durham, passed away Saturday, July 6, 2013 at Duke Regional Hospital. Born April 7, 1945 in Glen Dale, West Virginia to the late George Jack Fuller and Rita Evelyn Prado Fuller, Fred was a loyal member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Durham and former member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Moundsville, WV.

Mr. Fuller received a bachelors degree from West Liberty University, earned a Master's degree from West Virginia University, and attended a doctoral program at Duke University. Fred taught elementary school for many years in West Virginia, where he was named Marshall County Teacher of the Year, before becoming a school principal. He also taught at Fayetteville Street Elementary School, Durham, and worked at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA. His real passion was service to others and to community, and, before his health declined, Fred had been active in the Marshall County Classroom Teachers Association, the Salvation Army Youth Program, the Association for the Mentally Handicapped, the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America, and the March of Dimes, as well as other civic clubs and organizations. In his hometown of Moundsville, WV, he was responsible for the formation of a youth/teen center (of which he was manager) and a chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Affectionately known as “Dude” to his family, Fred is survived by three brothers, Jack Fuller Jr. (Jo) and James Fuller (Vicki) of Durham and Robert Fuller (Sandy) of Moundsville, WV. He also leaves behind two beloved aunts, Ellen Fuller of Moundsville, WV and Mary Fuller Kardos of Pittsburgh, PA; 7 nieces and nephews; 5 grand-nephews/niece; cousins; faithful friends at St. Luke’s, and the remarkable Hardee’s morning group to which he was devoted.

A memorial service to celebrate Fred’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2013 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Durham, NC

Sent to Vicki and Jim Fuller the Friday before Fred’s Saturday Funeral service.

 
Fred Fuller comments:

It has been a sad week for our classmates. Nothing we can say or do to the feelings of loss and sorrow. May they RIP.Fred “Fritz” Kinder

Please pass along the following comments to Fred's brothers and other family members.

We grew up together on a fabulous street (9th) at a wonderfully unparalleled time in American history. My four brothers and I were close friends with Fred and his three brothers. Fred and I went through school together from first grade at Central, to high school at MHS, to college at West Liberty. Fred was always a kind, generous, and loving person. In addition to my sadness that he has passed away, I regret that we never remained in close contact post college. I know his presence in my life would have enriched my adulthood as it did my childhood. My thoughts are with Jack, Bob, and Jim, who along with Fred (and Mr. and Mrs. Fuller) made my childhood a very special experience.

With fond memories,

Terry Shimp

 
This is a sad time for our class. It is also sad to hear about Gary Blake.

Paul Balgavy Jr.

 
To the Fuller Family ... so sorry to hear about Fred's passing. Just know that we will be keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers always... And, remembering all the good times on Ninth Street in Moundsville, WV. Dale & Darlene (Yost) Bush 

Sorry to hear that news. Our prayers are with the family and friendsDon “Jim” Young

 
One of the nicest guys in our class. My condolences and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. God bless all.Sandy Hayes Listen

 
Thank you Mick for sending on the info .about the death of our classmate Fred. I have been thinking of our high school days and when we were all so young. May he rest in peace.Jane (Frohnapfel) Barth

 

  Mick and all, saddened to learn of Fred’s passing. I am so glad that you (Mick) invited me to your 50th last year and I got to spend some quality time with Fred.Brad Knapp

 

Fred Fuller was a neighbor of mine all during our growing up years as were the Shimp Family ... so I remember all of them fondly. And, Donna Best Durbin lived right on 10th St. so she was close to us too.Thanks again for all that you both do.

Darlene Yost Bush

Peace for your Soul; Joy for your Spirit; Love for your Heart

 
So sorry to read this news Mick. His memory will be for a blessing..............that is in the old testament. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Charlotte Longdon Franklin-Rosenfeld

So many memories of our HS years and of Fred. I remember a smile and graciousness and caring for all. Blessings to all of us for knowing him and peace to his family.Sara Thompson Blum

 
Thank you for the info. I was talking to his brother at Ace, and he said he was not well.Let me know any arrangements.

Your Friend

Barbara Springer-Stern

 
Oh my goodness, that is so sad to hear about Fred Fuller. I am glad that I got to see him at the 50th reunion. As you have said before, Mick, the time is passing us by faster than we realize sometimes, and it is so nice to share some of this time with classmates when we can. Please send my condolences to Vicki and family. Will always have good memories of Fred from our schooldays at MHS.

Sherry Kasun

 
It is with great sorry that we have learned of the passing of our friend and classmate Fred Fuller. We are sending condolences to the entire family and keeping them in our thoughts and prayers. Fred will be sadly missed by his family, friends, classmates, and his community. RIP! Fred, you are with God now and will be well taken care of.
Gary and Teresa Church

Please extend our thoughts and prayers as well

Dale and Judy McLaughlin Allen

 
I was so sorry to learn of Fred's passing. We were so fortunate to have him with us at the last few reunions.Sandy Norton Eshlaman

 
I am so sorry to hear this. Fred was definitely one of a kind. My thoughts and prayers for the Fullers

Gary and Marcella Rejonis Prout

 
Vicki,
Please pass to Jim and his family that the response to my announcement
online of Fred's passing has been met with many expressing great
sadness. They wish it to be known that they have deep sympathy for the
family as we do for our class family.

I have emails from many that do not usually send me communication as
they need to make expressions of their grief and sadness. I too needed
to forward to you the compassion that they all felt for the Fuller
family.

In preparing this message to send, my mind recalled visions of Mr.
Fuller with his flat top hair cut. Know that Fred's dad was there to
welcome him home.

Sent from my iPod
Namaste', Mick and Susan Burk 

So sorry to hear this news. So many memories of his great humor. I know he and Wayne are sharing that humor again. He was a great friend and the best man at our wedding. So sad!Anita Rose Mason

 
So sorry to hear that - I always feel bad when one of our own passes.
Bobbie Hillman Dulaney 

Thanks for letting us know. I am sorry to hear that another classmate has closed his eyes forever.Sallie Gill Yourkovich

 
Makes me very sad
Walter “Nifty” Wilson 

Oh my gosh.......what  horrible news to hear of Fred’s passing.I know he wouldn't have gotten our class card and I even made note of him being president when I wrote a note to him.

Darn it..very very sad news.

Donna Best Durbin

 
So sorry to hear of this. Just got back from Wash, DC, where I got to celebrate our USA birthday. News of Fred's death dampens my spirits a bit. What has transpired the past few days regarding that? I did not see his name in the Wheeling obits.Susan McIlvan Parker (Class of 1963)

 
Very saddening news that Jim has passed away and we have lost another classmate. Our hearts goes out to the Fuller family.
Gary and Teresa Church

Such Sad, Sad news. You never know and as we all start to round 3rd and head home, some of us will get their sooner than others. Take time to enjoy what we have and all the good people we have met along the way.
Bob Kinkade 

Classmates,

Vicki Fuller, Jim's wife, sent me notice just a few minutes ago that Fred Fuller has passed away overnight from an apparent heart attack. When arrangements as known, I will send you the details as we celebrate the memories and the life of our class president.

Namaste',
Mick

 

I am sad and grieved to report that Fred passed away this morning of an apparent heart attack.

 

We will let you know of arrangements as soon as they are made.

Vicki S. Fuller

 

 

Phone called condolences:

Ruth Hunter Wilson

Mary Ann Richards Miner

Carol Cunningham Van Scyoc

Sharon Richmond Van Scyoc

Roger Wade

Louis Howard

Skeeter Anderson

Joyce Shaw Anderson

Jerry Chambers

Dory Streight Kahlbaugh

Barbara Brown Stern

Jean Rush Roberts

Rick Mullen

Paul Tucker

Gary Francis

Andrew (Buddy) McLaughlin

John “Buster” Hummell

Roger Uhl

Graveside Ceremony, Riverside Cemetery, Moundsville, WV August 24, 2013 This report is presented by Mick Burk

There were 13 representatives of the Class of 1962 at the celebration of Fred Fuller's graveside. The day was nearly perfect with bright sunshine and warm temperatures. There were nearly  50 people to witness the service at the grave. Fred was surrounded with family and friends during the service. It was obvious that there were many more there in mind to add to the ones there physically. Anita Rose Mason stopped to visit Wayne Mason's grave site on her way to where Fred's was. She said she could image them both together again and probably causing some mischief.  Fred was the Best Man in their wedding so she had additional feelings about the service.

The minister read Fred's Homely given at the funeral in Durham, NC. It was significant as it reflected points that struck us. In the front of the message, reference was made from the Book of Revelation about a  "new age".  It went on to speak of God's plan to be with us and not separate from us. The last line  said, "Thanks be to God that  we will not be separate forever."  It appeared that Fred understood a strong connection to God and served with  compassion to all.  During the ceremony, Crow's flew over with their "caws". Native American totems for Crows involves the magic connection with God as they "caw" to remind us of the presence of God around us all the time.

A reception followed at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Oak Avenue Moundsville. A buffet was enjoyed as we all visited with the Fuller family. Fred's  ninety some year old Aunt was there along with Jim's family, Bob's family and Jack's family. Vicki Fuller had generated a slide show on her computer that ran through many pictures that encompassed the range of Fred's life and experiences. It was a valuable tool for us all to recall those days in the neighborhood, school, and in Fred's life experiences.  Michael Bunner's sister Helen Bunner Chalk, was there as the Bunner's and Fuller's were neighbors and spent time inside each other's homes.
 
During this time relaxing together, we spent time telling stories of life with Fred in school and Jim added many stories of the  life of Fred  as they experienced in North Carolina.  Here are some of the stories and conversations:

Marcella "Twinkle" Rejonis Prout asked us at the classmate table, "Just why was Fred chosen as our class president?"  We all paused in thought as we all knew that we liked Fred but why select him to represent us as a class.  It was later in a conversation with Jim Fuller that the answer might have been determined. Jim spoke of doing so many things with Fred as brothers in their youth as well as in adulthood. Jim said, you know, "Fred was never cross with me even when I deserved it."  Perhaps that characteristic was what we all felt in his leadership.?

Jim spoke of things that Fred stood for in his showing of compassion. Fred had a way with disadvantaged people. During the late 60's in NC, there was a Federal rule that required to integrate schools. Fred volunteered to go to a "black" school where he became a most favorite teacher. Fred has his PH.D. in Education completed except for the approval of his Lead Teacher's approval.  They said Fred's position on educating the disadvantaged and "blacks" was "too controversial". His head teacher even resigned over that ruling as well as Fred dropping that process right there and then.

Jim told of Fred taking disadvantage and black kids to their cabin in the mountains near Mt. Airy for summer weekend get aways. Most of those kids had never been out of town let alone on a "vacation". Jim said that Fred got disappointed when he took those kids to the community swimming pool and they were denied entry because of their color.

Jim spoke of a special letter that Fred cherished from Mrs. Watkins. Fred continued to correspond with her long after graduation.  We were also told of Fred's Christian Academy experience in California where  he  served an elementary school environment.  When Fred's health became a barrier to his work there is when he moved back east near Jim and Vicki.

Now the real juicy stuff in those high school days. Most all involved are now out of education or passed so the stories can come out without recourse.  Fred, "Hubie" Wayne Mason, and Rick Mullen seems to have been primary partners in these episodes. Seems Fred and/or Wayne were required to sit up close to Mr. Doman's desk. We remember that Mr. Doman had an eye condition that made it hard to tell where he was looking.  Anyway, as Mr. Doman read from his text book, every time that he would look up from the book, one or both of these guys would blow a puff of air at the book turning the page. As Mr. Doman returned to the text to read, the page was different than when he left it before.  Other classmates said it was very difficult holding their straight faces in class.

Another refers to when class was in Mr . Burley's class. When Mr.. Burley turned to write on the board, Fred would jump up and do a dance then sit just before Mr. Burley turned back toward the class. Again, the real trauma was with the classmates to keep a straight face during these antics.

When we finished our stories, we all wondered how Mr. Vitalie survived our year as his first year teaching. One story involved Fred and Wayne Mason. Seems Wayne had to keep a screw driver in his pocket  that was necessary to operate his car. Something happened in the class and Mr. Vitalie had to leave the room. While he was out, Wayne and Fred removed the hinge pins in the classroom door. When Mr. Vitalie returned to open the door, the door fell into the classroom.

Doug Shimp was there representing the Shimp brothers and family neighbors. Doug told us that at one time it was said that within a few blocks of that part of Moundsville, there were over 60 kids in that few blocks. Good thing that there were sports to allow the release of energies in that crowd. Now that we all have been parents, we surely can admire how our parents dealt with this all without killing us all.

Jim and Vicki's son Ryan and wife Jolie came to the services from NC. Remember that Ryan appeared a few times in our Updates as we observed his public appearances on TV in his professional role as a Psychologist interviewed by Katie Curric and Diane Sawyer as examples of his notoriety. We are honored to have someone we know being so significant in the public view.

Here are those of us that represented the class at this celebration for Fred:
Anita Rose Mason, Joyce Shaw and Skeeter Anderson,  Donna Best and Dave Durbin, Barb Brown and Bob Stern, Sharon Richmond Van Scyoc, Marcella "Twinkle" Rejonis Prout, Susan Wilson and Mick Burk, and Susan Derrow and Rick Mullens. Helen Bunner Chalk and Doug Shimp from the neighborhood and Rosalyn Rhodes from Fred's past all added to the significance of the event.