David Fulton

1944 - 2022

David Fulton
February 2, 1944 - September 3, 2022
Chapel Hill , North Carolina - On Saturday September 3, 2022, David Gale Fulton, 78, passed away peacefully and in Bloomfield Hills, MI after bravely battling Parkinson's Disease for the past 8 years. He was lovingly surrounded by his daughter Britta and son David Jr. David was preceded in death by Susan Franklin, his wife of 38 years. He is survived by his son David Fulton Jr., daughter Britta Idrees and her husband Naumann Idrees, as well as their two children whom David adored, Penelope Sofia Idrees (Poppy) and Theodore Robert Idrees (Teddy).
Born February 2, 1944 in Beaver Falls, PA, David was the youngest of three children to parents Robert and Dorothy Boylin Fulton. He was joyfully welcomed by his three-year-old brother, Robert James Fulton, and five-year-old sister, Nancy May Fulton.
As David grew into a young elementary school student, he loved playing softball in the 'postage stamp backyard diamond' where he could regularly celebrate hitting a home run! He was a gregarious young boy who enjoyed active play with his fellow classmates. While still in elementary school, the family moved to Jamestown, NY for seven years, then to Quincy, IL and then to St. Louis, MO in the middle of his junior year in high school.
However, with each move David easily made new friends as his charm, wit, and refreshing candor made him a class favorite. His resilience and self-confidence fostered his ability to overcome the challenges he faced during this time and throughout his life.
Following high school David enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed for two years in Germany. During his deployment he enjoyed the ability to travel throughout Europe - skiing, meeting new friends, and living his best life. He then returned to Missouri and where he attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO.
For more than three decades, David was sought after as a highly accomplished sales executive. His medical sales career began at BorgWarner and later transitioned to Hill-Rom and became one of the top sales representatives in the country, earning several President's Club awards. This led to his recruitment by Stryker, where he continued to excel as a sales leader up until his retirement in 2008. Though he was officially retired, he continued sharing his passion for the industry through providing consultation services for other companies.
In 1995, David's business success led the family from Wilmette, IL and move to Chapel Hill, NC. David instantly fell in love with the college town and became a lifelong Tar Heel fan. An ideal weekend for him was spent at the Chapel Hill Country Club, fraternizing with the other members, playing golf, and being an integral part of the social scene. While other golfers at The Club were on the fairways and greens, David would often be found looking for his ball and perfecting his sand shots. This did not impede his love for the game or his enthusiasm in teaching his children how to play.
Over the years David became fond of German Shepherds and devoted significant time to training them. He was proud of his ability to teach them to climb trees and to play with his children on jungle gyms. Family, friends, and strangers alike all knew David and his German Shepherds. He was constantly seen with them by his side at Britta and Dave's sports game and around Chapel Hill.
After his wife Susan's passing in 2018, David moved from Chapel Hill, NC to Chicago to be near Britta, Naumann, and his grandchildren. David adored his grandchildren and the love they shared helped keep him young during his later years. He will forever be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, successful businessman, and the life of the party.
Service to be held at Chapel of the Cross at 3 PM ET on October 14, 2022