Thomas Anthony Fulton was born at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon on March 14, 1963, and named in honor of the Reverend Thomas Anthony Gadbois (1921-1980). He was the tenth and final child of Charlton Paschal Fulton and Elizabeth Biner Fulton. He passed away unexpectedly at his home in Corvallis, Oregon on the morning of November 9, 2015.
Tom grew up in Northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood and attended Madeleine Grade School. He also briefly attended St. Joseph’s School in Seattle and then Portland’s Washington High School. As a small boy he was fascinated with fire engines and kept scrapbooks filled with pictures and articles about them. He was particularly close to his elderly father, C. P. Fulton, who was 63 years old when Tom was born. C.P. called him Tommy and after C.P.’s death in 1980 Tom kept a picture of his dad in his wallet for the rest of his life. Tom also refused to work on the 4th of July, not from a sense of patriotism, but because that was the day that his father died.
Tom's professional career was spent in numerous kitchens throughout the United States as a cook and chef. He worked at three National Parks: Olympic, Mt. Rainer and Shenandoah Valley as well as restaurants in Portland; Seattle; Lincoln, Nebraska and Corvallis, Oregon.
Tom enjoyed athletics and his favorite teams were the Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. He was the only “Platypus” in a family of Beavers. He had a brief but solid career as a distance runner and a personal best of 32:52 for the 10,000 meter run.
.
An avid fisherman, Tom’s favorite spot was Olalla Lake near Toledo. Although he did not like to be in a boat, nor was he particularly fond of eating fish, he savored the long hours spent on the banks of the lake casting his line.
Tom was very proud of his family and family history. His apartment was a museum honoring his grandfather, the brewmaster William Henry Biner, and of course his late father. Tom loved collecting beer steins and had several belonging to his late grandfather.
Tom married Jennifer Drueke from Lincoln, Nebraska in 2011. The two had met nine years earlier at Olympic National Park. Their wedding took place above the Pacific Ocean in Yachats, Oregon, one of Tom’s favorite places to be. Tom was like a little kid whenever it snowed. When he lived in Lincoln he got plenty of snow and never hesitated to share the news with his siblings in the more temperate valleys of the Pacific Northwest. But as much as he loved the snow, he loved Oregon more and was excited to return when Jenn landed a job in Corvallis.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Jennifer Fulton of Corvallis as well as all nine of his brothers and sisters; William (Diane Sanders) of Manton, CA., Charlene (Charlie Collora) of Seattle, WA., Chuck of San Francisco, CA., Mary (Chuck Olson) of Kings Valley, OR., Leslie (Bill Boniface) of Seattle WA., Joe (Debra Hascall) of Kings Valley OR., Daniel (Beth Marcotte) of Lake Oswego OR., Bob (Lauren Mack) of Corvallis OR., and Fred (Rose Trentacoste) of Vancouver, WA.
Although Tom had no children of his own he is lovingly remembered by his eighteen nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. He loved his big family and was always in his best humor when he was around them, especially the young ones. He had a dry sense of humor and was a committed progressive and non-conformist.
The unique Tom Fulton: tallest and youngest of the ten Fulton siblings, missed but never forgotten.
Here is a memory of Tom from his boyhood buddy, Mark McDevitt.
I grew up with Tom (known mostly as Tommy to me) in NE Portland during the 60's & 70's right next door to him in the Irvington Neighborhood. Amazing stories I could share about Tom are too numerous to mention. We had lots of fun and got in lots of trouble together as well (as many of his siblings will attest).
As kids, Tom and I shared a mutual fascination with collecting and playing with Matchbox Cars & Hot Wheels. We avidly challenged and supported each other in expanding our collections, even trading with each other some times much like other kids might trade baseball cards and such.
I remember hot summer days walking to the Grant Park Pool and back. We'd collect bottles and cans in an effort to cobble some spare change together so that we could score some treats to snack on for the way back home. I never knew a kid who could put that many pieces of bubble gum in his mouth at the same time. The bubbles were humongous!
We'd race each other around the block on our bikes and participate in mammoth games of hide 'n seek that would involve nearly every kid in the neighborhood. I recall that Tom was particularly good at hiding; usually the very last one to be found.
I also recall that, as a child, Tom had a rich and fertile imagination. I lost touch with him during our teen years, only seeing and visiting with him once more when we chanced to meet during my sister's wedding reception years later. I was only a year older than Tom; always a little taller and certainly weighed more than him growing up. But, when I saw him at my sister's wedding, he easily outclassed me by then in both height and weight, surely a full 4 to 5 inches taller than me and perhaps several pounds heavier. He had fun rubbing my face in the fact that he was "bigger than me now." I kiddingly replied, "Big deal. I can still kick your a**." We laughed and spent time catching up we each other. He still struck me as that same wildly imaginative kid I knew from years gone by. That was the last time I saw him.
Tom played a part in helping form my character as a kid. I'd like to think I provided the same opportunities for him, however minor they may be. As much as I will recall him fondly whenever I think of him, I know his family will miss him all the more, much like I miss my own brother who passed away several years ago; bittersweet combinations of joy & grief that never fully subside. I still love talking about my brother, Kevin, and I'm sure Tom's siblings will do likewise with same measure of zeal and affection.
Go in peace my brother Tom. Share the secrets of your imagination with the Angels & Saints in your new home in His Kingdom.
Mark McDevitt
Tom grew up in Northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood and attended Madeleine Grade School. He also briefly attended St. Joseph’s School in Seattle and then Portland’s Washington High School. As a small boy he was fascinated with fire engines and kept scrapbooks filled with pictures and articles about them. He was particularly close to his elderly father, C. P. Fulton, who was 63 years old when Tom was born. C.P. called him Tommy and after C.P.’s death in 1980 Tom kept a picture of his dad in his wallet for the rest of his life. Tom also refused to work on the 4th of July, not from a sense of patriotism, but because that was the day that his father died.
Tom's professional career was spent in numerous kitchens throughout the United States as a cook and chef. He worked at three National Parks: Olympic, Mt. Rainer and Shenandoah Valley as well as restaurants in Portland; Seattle; Lincoln, Nebraska and Corvallis, Oregon.
Tom enjoyed athletics and his favorite teams were the Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. He was the only “Platypus” in a family of Beavers. He had a brief but solid career as a distance runner and a personal best of 32:52 for the 10,000 meter run.
.
An avid fisherman, Tom’s favorite spot was Olalla Lake near Toledo. Although he did not like to be in a boat, nor was he particularly fond of eating fish, he savored the long hours spent on the banks of the lake casting his line.
Tom was very proud of his family and family history. His apartment was a museum honoring his grandfather, the brewmaster William Henry Biner, and of course his late father. Tom loved collecting beer steins and had several belonging to his late grandfather.
Tom married Jennifer Drueke from Lincoln, Nebraska in 2011. The two had met nine years earlier at Olympic National Park. Their wedding took place above the Pacific Ocean in Yachats, Oregon, one of Tom’s favorite places to be. Tom was like a little kid whenever it snowed. When he lived in Lincoln he got plenty of snow and never hesitated to share the news with his siblings in the more temperate valleys of the Pacific Northwest. But as much as he loved the snow, he loved Oregon more and was excited to return when Jenn landed a job in Corvallis.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Jennifer Fulton of Corvallis as well as all nine of his brothers and sisters; William (Diane Sanders) of Manton, CA., Charlene (Charlie Collora) of Seattle, WA., Chuck of San Francisco, CA., Mary (Chuck Olson) of Kings Valley, OR., Leslie (Bill Boniface) of Seattle WA., Joe (Debra Hascall) of Kings Valley OR., Daniel (Beth Marcotte) of Lake Oswego OR., Bob (Lauren Mack) of Corvallis OR., and Fred (Rose Trentacoste) of Vancouver, WA.
Although Tom had no children of his own he is lovingly remembered by his eighteen nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. He loved his big family and was always in his best humor when he was around them, especially the young ones. He had a dry sense of humor and was a committed progressive and non-conformist.
The unique Tom Fulton: tallest and youngest of the ten Fulton siblings, missed but never forgotten.
Here is a memory of Tom from his boyhood buddy, Mark McDevitt.
I grew up with Tom (known mostly as Tommy to me) in NE Portland during the 60's & 70's right next door to him in the Irvington Neighborhood. Amazing stories I could share about Tom are too numerous to mention. We had lots of fun and got in lots of trouble together as well (as many of his siblings will attest).
As kids, Tom and I shared a mutual fascination with collecting and playing with Matchbox Cars & Hot Wheels. We avidly challenged and supported each other in expanding our collections, even trading with each other some times much like other kids might trade baseball cards and such.
I remember hot summer days walking to the Grant Park Pool and back. We'd collect bottles and cans in an effort to cobble some spare change together so that we could score some treats to snack on for the way back home. I never knew a kid who could put that many pieces of bubble gum in his mouth at the same time. The bubbles were humongous!
We'd race each other around the block on our bikes and participate in mammoth games of hide 'n seek that would involve nearly every kid in the neighborhood. I recall that Tom was particularly good at hiding; usually the very last one to be found.
I also recall that, as a child, Tom had a rich and fertile imagination. I lost touch with him during our teen years, only seeing and visiting with him once more when we chanced to meet during my sister's wedding reception years later. I was only a year older than Tom; always a little taller and certainly weighed more than him growing up. But, when I saw him at my sister's wedding, he easily outclassed me by then in both height and weight, surely a full 4 to 5 inches taller than me and perhaps several pounds heavier. He had fun rubbing my face in the fact that he was "bigger than me now." I kiddingly replied, "Big deal. I can still kick your a**." We laughed and spent time catching up we each other. He still struck me as that same wildly imaginative kid I knew from years gone by. That was the last time I saw him.
Tom played a part in helping form my character as a kid. I'd like to think I provided the same opportunities for him, however minor they may be. As much as I will recall him fondly whenever I think of him, I know his family will miss him all the more, much like I miss my own brother who passed away several years ago; bittersweet combinations of joy & grief that never fully subside. I still love talking about my brother, Kevin, and I'm sure Tom's siblings will do likewise with same measure of zeal and affection.
Go in peace my brother Tom. Share the secrets of your imagination with the Angels & Saints in your new home in His Kingdom.
Mark McDevitt
Thomas Anthony Fulton was born at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon on March 14, 1963, and named in honor of the Reverend Thomas Anthony Gadbois (1921-1980). He was the tenth and final child of Charlton Paschal Fulton and Elizabeth Biner Fulton. He passed away unexpectedly at his home in Corvallis, Oregon on the morning of November 9, 2015.
Tom grew up in Northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood and attended Madeleine Grade School. He also briefly attended St. Joseph’s School in Seattle and then Portland’s Washington High School. As a small boy he was fascinated with fire engines and kept scrapbooks filled with pictures and articles about them. He was particularly close to his elderly father, C. P. Fulton, who was 63 years old when Tom was born. C.P. called him Tommy and after C.P.’s death in 1980 Tom kept a picture of his dad in his wallet for the rest of his life. Tom also refused to work on the 4th of July, not from a sense of patriotism, but because that was the day that his father died.
Tom's professional career was spent in numerous kitchens throughout the United States as a cook and chef. He worked at three National Parks: Olympic, Mt. Rainer and Shenandoah Valley as well as restaurants in Portland; Seattle; Lincoln, Nebraska and Corvallis, Oregon.
Tom enjoyed athletics and his favorite teams were the Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. He was the only “Platypus” in a family of Beavers. He had a brief but solid career as a distance runner and a personal best of 32:52 for the 10,000 meter run.
.
An avid fisherman, Tom’s favorite spot was Olalla Lake near Toledo. Although he did not like to be in a boat, nor was he particularly fond of eating fish, he savored the long hours spent on the banks of the lake casting his line.
Tom was very proud of his family and family history. His apartment was a museum honoring his grandfather, the brewmaster William Henry Biner, and of course his late father. Tom loved collecting beer steins and had several belonging to his late grandfather.
Tom married Jennifer Drueke from Lincoln, Nebraska in 2011. The two had met nine years earlier at Olympic National Park. Their wedding took place above the Pacific Ocean in Yachats, Oregon, one of Tom’s favorite places to be. Tom was like a little kid whenever it snowed. When he lived in Lincoln he got plenty of snow and never hesitated to share the news with his siblings in the more temperate valleys of the Pacific Northwest. But as much as he loved the snow, he loved Oregon more and was excited to return when Jenn landed a job in Corvallis.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Jennifer Fulton of Corvallis as well as all nine of his brothers and sisters; William (Diane Sanders) of Manton, CA., Charlene (Charlie Collora) of Seattle, WA., Chuck of San Francisco, CA., Mary (Chuck Olson) of Kings Valley, OR., Leslie (Bill Boniface) of Seattle WA., Joe (Debra Hascall) of Kings Valley OR., Daniel (Beth Marcotte) of Lake Oswego OR., Bob (Lauren Mack) of Corvallis OR., and Fred (Rose Trentacoste) of Vancouver, WA.
Although Tom had no children of his own he is lovingly remembered by his eighteen nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. He loved his big family and was always in his best humor when he was around them, especially the young ones. He had a dry sense of humor and was a committed progressive and non-conformist.
The unique Tom Fulton: tallest and youngest of the ten Fulton siblings, missed but never forgotten.
Here is a memory of Tom from his boyhood buddy, Mark McDevitt.
I grew up with Tom (known mostly as Tommy to me) in NE Portland during the 60's & 70's right next door to him in the Irvington Neighborhood. Amazing stories I could share about Tom are too numerous to mention. We had lots of fun and got in lots of trouble together as well (as many of his siblings will attest).
As kids, Tom and I shared a mutual fascination with collecting and playing with Matchbox Cars & Hot Wheels. We avidly challenged and supported each other in expanding our collections, even trading with each other some times much like other kids might trade baseball cards and such.
I remember hot summer days walking to the Grant Park Pool and back. We'd collect bottles and cans in an effort to cobble some spare change together so that we could score some treats to snack on for the way back home. I never knew a kid who could put that many pieces of bubble gum in his mouth at the same time. The bubbles were humongous!
We'd race each other around the block on our bikes and participate in mammoth games of hide 'n seek that would involve nearly every kid in the neighborhood. I recall that Tom was particularly good at hiding; usually the very last one to be found.
I also recall that, as a child, Tom had a rich and fertile imagination. I lost touch with him during our teen years, only seeing and visiting with him once more when we chanced to meet during my sister's wedding reception years later. I was only a year older than Tom; always a little taller and certainly weighed more than him growing up. But, when I saw him at my sister's wedding, he easily outclassed me by then in both height and weight, surely a full 4 to 5 inches taller than me and perhaps several pounds heavier. He had fun rubbing my face in the fact that he was "bigger than me now." I kiddingly replied, "Big deal. I can still kick your a**." We laughed and spent time catching up we each other. He still struck me as that same wildly imaginative kid I knew from years gone by. That was the last time I saw him.
Tom played a part in helping form my character as a kid. I'd like to think I provided the same opportunities for him, however minor they may be. As much as I will recall him fondly whenever I think of him, I know his family will miss him all the more, much like I miss my own brother who passed away several years ago; bittersweet combinations of joy & grief that never fully subside. I still love talking about my brother, Kevin, and I'm sure Tom's siblings will do likewise with same measure of zeal and affection.
Go in peace my brother Tom. Share the secrets of your imagination with the Angels & Saints in your new home in His Kingdom.
Mark McDevitt
Tom grew up in Northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood and attended Madeleine Grade School. He also briefly attended St. Joseph’s School in Seattle and then Portland’s Washington High School. As a small boy he was fascinated with fire engines and kept scrapbooks filled with pictures and articles about them. He was particularly close to his elderly father, C. P. Fulton, who was 63 years old when Tom was born. C.P. called him Tommy and after C.P.’s death in 1980 Tom kept a picture of his dad in his wallet for the rest of his life. Tom also refused to work on the 4th of July, not from a sense of patriotism, but because that was the day that his father died.
Tom's professional career was spent in numerous kitchens throughout the United States as a cook and chef. He worked at three National Parks: Olympic, Mt. Rainer and Shenandoah Valley as well as restaurants in Portland; Seattle; Lincoln, Nebraska and Corvallis, Oregon.
Tom enjoyed athletics and his favorite teams were the Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. He was the only “Platypus” in a family of Beavers. He had a brief but solid career as a distance runner and a personal best of 32:52 for the 10,000 meter run.
.
An avid fisherman, Tom’s favorite spot was Olalla Lake near Toledo. Although he did not like to be in a boat, nor was he particularly fond of eating fish, he savored the long hours spent on the banks of the lake casting his line.
Tom was very proud of his family and family history. His apartment was a museum honoring his grandfather, the brewmaster William Henry Biner, and of course his late father. Tom loved collecting beer steins and had several belonging to his late grandfather.
Tom married Jennifer Drueke from Lincoln, Nebraska in 2011. The two had met nine years earlier at Olympic National Park. Their wedding took place above the Pacific Ocean in Yachats, Oregon, one of Tom’s favorite places to be. Tom was like a little kid whenever it snowed. When he lived in Lincoln he got plenty of snow and never hesitated to share the news with his siblings in the more temperate valleys of the Pacific Northwest. But as much as he loved the snow, he loved Oregon more and was excited to return when Jenn landed a job in Corvallis.
Tom is survived by his loving wife Jennifer Fulton of Corvallis as well as all nine of his brothers and sisters; William (Diane Sanders) of Manton, CA., Charlene (Charlie Collora) of Seattle, WA., Chuck of San Francisco, CA., Mary (Chuck Olson) of Kings Valley, OR., Leslie (Bill Boniface) of Seattle WA., Joe (Debra Hascall) of Kings Valley OR., Daniel (Beth Marcotte) of Lake Oswego OR., Bob (Lauren Mack) of Corvallis OR., and Fred (Rose Trentacoste) of Vancouver, WA.
Although Tom had no children of his own he is lovingly remembered by his eighteen nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. He loved his big family and was always in his best humor when he was around them, especially the young ones. He had a dry sense of humor and was a committed progressive and non-conformist.
The unique Tom Fulton: tallest and youngest of the ten Fulton siblings, missed but never forgotten.
Here is a memory of Tom from his boyhood buddy, Mark McDevitt.
I grew up with Tom (known mostly as Tommy to me) in NE Portland during the 60's & 70's right next door to him in the Irvington Neighborhood. Amazing stories I could share about Tom are too numerous to mention. We had lots of fun and got in lots of trouble together as well (as many of his siblings will attest).
As kids, Tom and I shared a mutual fascination with collecting and playing with Matchbox Cars & Hot Wheels. We avidly challenged and supported each other in expanding our collections, even trading with each other some times much like other kids might trade baseball cards and such.
I remember hot summer days walking to the Grant Park Pool and back. We'd collect bottles and cans in an effort to cobble some spare change together so that we could score some treats to snack on for the way back home. I never knew a kid who could put that many pieces of bubble gum in his mouth at the same time. The bubbles were humongous!
We'd race each other around the block on our bikes and participate in mammoth games of hide 'n seek that would involve nearly every kid in the neighborhood. I recall that Tom was particularly good at hiding; usually the very last one to be found.
I also recall that, as a child, Tom had a rich and fertile imagination. I lost touch with him during our teen years, only seeing and visiting with him once more when we chanced to meet during my sister's wedding reception years later. I was only a year older than Tom; always a little taller and certainly weighed more than him growing up. But, when I saw him at my sister's wedding, he easily outclassed me by then in both height and weight, surely a full 4 to 5 inches taller than me and perhaps several pounds heavier. He had fun rubbing my face in the fact that he was "bigger than me now." I kiddingly replied, "Big deal. I can still kick your a**." We laughed and spent time catching up we each other. He still struck me as that same wildly imaginative kid I knew from years gone by. That was the last time I saw him.
Tom played a part in helping form my character as a kid. I'd like to think I provided the same opportunities for him, however minor they may be. As much as I will recall him fondly whenever I think of him, I know his family will miss him all the more, much like I miss my own brother who passed away several years ago; bittersweet combinations of joy & grief that never fully subside. I still love talking about my brother, Kevin, and I'm sure Tom's siblings will do likewise with same measure of zeal and affection.
Go in peace my brother Tom. Share the secrets of your imagination with the Angels & Saints in your new home in His Kingdom.
Mark McDevitt
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
