Raymond Fulton Jr.

Raymond Fulton Jr.

Raymond "Ray" or "Steamboat" Nellis Fulton Jr., 60, a 29-year resident of Annapolis and previously of Gaithersburg, died September 9 of a brain tumor, following a five year battle.
Born January 3, 1952 in Norfolk, VA, he attended Sharon High School in Sharon, PA, graduating in 1969. Ray was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture in 1973.
He began his active duty in the U.S. Navy, serving as a U.S. Naval Officer from 1973 to 1980. During this time, Ray served on the USS Reasoner and the
USS Francis Scott Key, before becoming an instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit S1C, in Windsor Locks, CT. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Polaris Patrol Pin with one Silver Star, and the Submarine Insignia. Ray continued his service as a U.S. Naval Reserve Officer from 1980 to 1989, retiring as LT Commander from the U.S. Naval Reserves.
Following active duty, Ray served as a Senior Engineer for Advanced Technology, Inc; worked from 1981 to 1984 as Naval Architect for the Department of the Navy, the Scientific Management Associates, Inc. and MANTECH, International; served as Aircraft Carrier Fleet Support for the Department of the Navy from 1984 to 1992; and Nuclear Engineer for the Department of Energy from 1992 to 1993.
In 1995, Ray returned to school earning a Master's of Science Engineering degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. From 2000 to 2007, he served as Naval Architect at Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory. In addition, Ray owned Steamboat Enterprises in Annapolis from 1993 to 2007.
He volunteered at the USNA museum model ship department, where he helped refurbish a ship model now on display at the Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis. Ray was also well known in the Annapolis community for his many acting roles in Colonial Players, Annapolis Summer Garden Theater, and the Bowie Community Theater. He was featured in the Bay Weekly in an article describing his battle with cancer and return to the stage in Colonial Players production of "Over My Dead Body."
In addition to his membership in the Fleet Reserve Association, he was a member of the St. Mary's Church in Annapolis. He enjoyed playing handball, tennis and golf.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond N. Fulton Sr. and Wilma Rae Fulton of Frankfort, KY.
Married November 8, 1986, he is survived by his wife, Nancy Fulton; sons, Christopher Fulton, Naval Officer in flight training in Enid, OK, and Benjamin Fulton of Annapolis and completing his final year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; brother, Timothy Fulton of Cincinnati, OH.
Visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Inc., 147 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis. A Mass will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Rd., Annapolis.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray's memory can be made to John Hopkins Hospital, Kimmel Cancer Center, One Charles Center, 100 North Charles St., Suite 234, Baltimore, MD 21201; Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, AACLC, P.O. Box 1303, Edgewater, MD 21037; or Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Hwy., Annapolis, MD 21401.
Online condolences may be made to
www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com