John Allen Fulton

1919 - 2010

John Allen Fulton
10/21/1919 - 11/15/2010


Born in Grass Valley, to John Allen, and Anita Berteau Fulton, and raised at Reno, Nev., by a pioneer Nevada family with a mining, political, and educational background. A graduate of Reno High School, he attended Menlo College before he spent several years working in the mines of Nevada, after the death of his father. He spent the war years recovering from tuberculosis at Colfax, Calif. There he met his first wife Barbara Campbell while coaching her girls softball team. They settled in West Sacramento after the war where he found work as an accountant. His favorite account being the Sacramento Solons baseball team. He rose to manager of the Washington Water and Light Co. In 1951 they had their only daughter Mary Diane. Concurrent with his work in West Sacramento he developed property that his family held at Carnelian Bay, Lake Tahoe, with the Fulton Estate Co. Selling lots that his family had inherited from his grandfather Robert Lardin Fulton in the 1920's. These lots were some of the first to be established on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, and is now known as Fulton Acres. With the receipts from these sales he supported his fathers siblings Margaret, and Helen. He oversaw the growth of the Fulton Water Co, and started the Fulton Plumbing Co. He was a founding member of the Sacramento Water Association, and helped to establish the Port of West Sacramento, traveling to Europe with a trade group, to promote it's use. In 1968 he permanently moved to the lake to run his water and plumbing business. He had a great love for all things Nevada, and could be found roaming in his pickup truck in the most obscure and desolate parts of the desert, with family or friends. He and Barbara visited all fifty state capitals, with their true friends Ed and Bev Lammerding. After the death of Barbara in 1992, he met and courted Claudia Henry of Colfax, Calif. They were married in June of 1995. They balanced work with many trips throughout the world. Visiting China, UK, Europe, So America, and Antarctica. He particularly enjoyed trips to Ashland Or. for Shakespeare, and Elko Nev., for cowboy poetry. He was a life time supporter and friend to the Boy Scouts of America, and received the Silver Beaver Award. After more than 40 years of management he turned over the family business to his daughter Mary, and her husband Craig Fox. He retired to a home in Colfax where he played chess, rooted for the Kings, studied railroad history, and lived to see the SF Giants win the World Series. When he died at Auburn Hospital, a new dawn arose. His loving wife, and beloved daughter held his hand as he passed.
He is survived by his Wife, daughter, step-daughter Susan, sisters Margaret and Helen, grandchildren Lalena, Jason, Heather, two grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He will be laid next to his first wife Barbara, during a private family ceremony in Reno Nev. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the John Allen Fulton Endowed Scholarship in mining engineering, fund #175256 University of Nevada, Reno Foundation, University of Nevada, Reno/Mail Stop 0162, Reno, NV 89577 or boy Scouts of America Golden Empire Council, 251 Commerce Circle, Sacramento, Ca. 95815 or Episcopal Church, PO Box 855, Tahoe City, CA. 96145.