WILMINGTON — When I was reading how to write an obituary one of the things that stood out to me was how to tribute them. A close friend sent me this tribute to Ed. Although not your standard obituary I know I couldn’t tribute him any better. We had a fun and adventurous life together enjoying many friendships along the way. I’m thankful although cut too short to have found him and loved him for 42 years. His sense of humor, generosity and loyalty set him far apart. I’m so proud to have been married to a guy so many people from all walks of life are sharing their sincere love for and I know he is listening and smiling. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. – Kathy Fuller
Dr. Edward E Fuller
“Doc”
May 11, 1956 – October 4, 2024
Survived by immediate family members, wife, Kathy Fuller; children, Edward Jr, John and Joe (JG).
In addition, his brothers, Ricky, Tom and sister, Rosemary … wives, husbands, nieces and nephews.
Tribute
On Friday morning October 4, the world lost an incredible man. As a young soldier, in Germany, he used his free time to mentor young Boy Scouts on the army base there. One of those Boy Scouts, who became an Eagle Scout (like Ed) was my late husband, Dave Shephard. This was the start of a long and beautiful friendship.
Later, this man married a beautiful woman and together they adopted three youngsters from Romania. They had gone there to bring a maximum of 3 home (a number was required by Catholic Charities which annoyed Ed as he would have liked it open ended) but Kathy appreciated a set number and indeed they met their goal.
This man worked two jobs at times as a college professor and IBM Financial Analyst in order to give these boys the American dream. He and his lovely wife gave these boys every opportunity to thrive and flourish in the United States, which they did. I met this man and his wife shortly after they had brought these boys home from Romania and they became dear friends to me too. They became such good friends that this man was the best man in our wedding.
When my husband was killed serving his country, this man flew all the way across the country in an instant to be there for me and has been a tremendous support for the last 19 years since Dave’s death.
Yesterday, while taking a shower, he collapsed and died. My heart aches for his wife, Kathy, and his three grown sons as I fully understand the tremendous pain that they experience now and the hole that this loss will permanently leave.
Edward Edgar Fuller was one of the finest human beings I’ve ever known. His heart was as big as his tremendously tall body. He was kind, generous, brilliant, and wickedly funny. I am so terribly sad that he was taken from us at 68 years old, but I’m quite certain that he and Dave are smoking cigars and sipping whiskey, waiting for the rest of us to show up.
I have only experienced death from the view of the living. From where I view it, Eddie and Dave are free from the pain they endured on this earth. I guess it’s part of life; if you live long enough, you begin to lose people who are so close that you can’t imagine how you’ll do it without them.
I’m reminded again of how quickly our lives can be over. I’m grateful for this lesson as I want to live as much as I can on this earth before I’m called home. I pray that we all can live this way and not get caught up in the minutiae that won’t matter at the end.
God Bless Ed Fuller and God Bless you.
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