Word has been received in Winona Lake that Rev. (Chaplain) Carlton Fuller died Monday at his home in Tennessee. He was a retired Air Force Grace Brethren Chaplain.
According to the Grace Brethren Chaplain’s Endorsing Agent, Dr. John Schumacher, Fuller’s service with the Air Force Chaplaincy dates from February 1963, when he reported to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, for the Basic Chaplains Course.
He was then assigned to Stewart AFB, New York. He also served an isolated tour in Shemya, Alaska in 1966-67. He left the Air Force Chaplaincy on or about June 1972 after finishing his tour of duty at Canon Air Force Base, NM. Sometime later began a ministry as a chaplain with the Veterans Administration. He was still active in that ministry at the time of his death on 23 January 2006.
In 1998 Carlton was given “The Secretary’s Excellence in Chaplaincy” in the “Part Time Category.” Larry Chamberlain and John Schumacher both attended the event of the presentation of the award in Washington, D.C.
Fuller was born on 25 September in 1925, and was married to Vivian Stewart in August 1955. They have two daughters, Ruth and Beth. He received his Bachelors degree from Miami of Ohio and attended Grace Seminary.
The following obituary appears in today’s Johnson City (TN) Press newspaper:
Mr. Carlton Jay Fuller, 80, Telford, TN, died Monday, January 23, 2006, at his residence. Mr. Fuller was born in Dayton, Ohio, and was a son of the late Howard and Hazel Fuller. Mr. Fuller was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War, he served as Chaplain in Vietnam.
Mr. Fuller was a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received a full scholarship as a long-distance runner. He was also a graduate of Grace Theological Seminary.
Mr. Fuller was a chaplain at the Quillen Veterans Administration Medical Center for more than 30 years. He attended Telford Grace Brethren Church. For many years he served as minister for Grace Brethren Churches in Tennessee, Iowa and Virginia.
Surviving: his wife of 50 years, Vivian Stewart Fuller, of the home; two daughters, Ruth Fuller, Hawaii, and Beth Fuller, Telford; a grandson and his wife, Jamie and Elizabeth Hoilman, Telford; two great grandchildren, Catlin Hoilman and Logan Hoilman, Telford; a brother and sister-in-law, Thorald and Harriett Fuller, Cincinnati, Ohio; several nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Fuller will be conducted 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2006, at Telford Grace Brethren Church with Pastor Robert Skeen, Chaplain Richard Willis, Mr. Don Meade, Pastor Randy Ryssemus and Pastor Larry Chamberlain officiating.
The body will lie in state for 30 minutes prior to the funeral service. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2006, at the Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 27, 2006 at Mtn Home National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home Wednesday, January 25, 2006, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Condolences may be sent to the Fuller family online at www.dillow-taylor.com. Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 423-753-3821