Obituary: Dr. Gwin M. Fulgham

Funeral services for Dr. Gwin M. Fulgham, DDS, 90 of Malakoff are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church-Athens with Dr. Kyle Henderson officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Memorial Park.

Services are under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

Dr. Fulgham passed away Monday, February 16, 2015 in Malakoff.

He was born January 21, 1925 in Brownsboro to Ivy T. and Nannie Brewer Fulgham. Dr. Fulgham was one of five children. He was a graduate of Brownsboro High School, East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce and the University of Texas Dental School in Houston. He started his dental practice in Duncanville in 1954 and in 1957 moved his practice to Oak Cliff where he remained until 1972. He then made the move to Malakoff where he was in practice until April, 2014. He proudly served as a dentist until the age of 89. His goal was to practice his craft until the age of 90 and he almost made it. Dr. Fulgham proudly served his nation as an infantry soldier during World War II. He was inducted into the armed services in September 1943 when he served in combat in the South Pacific Theater. One of the campaigns he fought was on the Island of Luzon. He was decorated with numerous medals and was extremely proud to be a part of an Honor Flight made up of other World War II survivors who visited Washington D. C. and the World War II Memorial in 2012. Dr. Fulgham was involved with the communities where he lived serving on both the Duncanville and the Malakoff Independent School District school boards. He was instrumental in opening the First State Bank of Duncanville where he was one of the original directors. He started filming the Duncanville High School football games and continued to do the same when he moved to Malakoff. He would film the games, take and have it processed and return it before the next day so the coaches would have films to study. Dr. Fulgham was a member of the Jaycees, Lions Club, and Chamber of Commerce. He was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge # 759 of Malakoff where he was awarded the Golden Trowel Award for Exceptional Service by the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. and A.M. in 2011. Additionally he was a member of the Shriner’s and the Malakoff Remote Control Fly Club. He had quite the collection of RC aircraft; Sometimes a few too many according to his wife Frances. Dr. Fulgham and Frances enjoyed traveling. In the early 60’s they were a member of the World Sampler’s Flying Club. Over the last several years they used their fifth wheel RV trailer and traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. One of their most memorable trips was to Alaska and Nova Scotia.

Dr. Fulgham loved being a dentist. He cared for all those who came to see him. He practiced over 60 years and often said one of the things that kept him going was his patients telling him, “Doc, you can’t quit now-we still need you!” He was truly loved by all. He was extremely proud of all his children.

Dr. Fulgham is preceded in death by brothers Truitt and Joe Bryan, sisters Evelyn Crow and Margie Neswitz, son Stephen Fulgham, daughter Deborah Wolfe and granddaughter Frances Ruth Fulgham.

He is survived by his wife Frances Tidmore Fulgham of Malakoff, daughter Donna Fulgham of Little Rock, Arkansas, sons Stanley Fulgham and wife Carol of Fort Worth, Kevin Fulgham and wife Margaret of Athens, daughter in law Linda Fulgham of Arlington and son in law Robert Wolfe of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, grandchildren Kimela Rich, Gwin Hunter, Brent Fulgham, Jennifer Fulgham, Stephanie Hall, Samantha Parker, Lindsay Wolfe and Callie Gritt, 12 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Joe Fulgham, Lindsey Wolfe, Charles Tidmore, Danny Tidmore, Gwin Hunter and Brent Fulgham.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dick Rummel, Myron Brashear, Bill Kerlee, Grady Phillips, Don Hughes, Don Murphy, Masonic Lodge # 759 of Malakoff and the Malakoff Radio Controlled Fly Club.

Visitation for family and friends will be 5:30 –7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

We would like to thank Dr. Katrina Glover and staff, Cedar Lake Nursing Home as well as Cedar Lake Hospice. Their care will not be forgotten.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice, 104 S. Terry Street, Malakoff, Texas 75148, Masonic Lodge # 759, 110 Jackson Street, Malakoff, Texas 75148 or a Cancer Society of your choice.

You may leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle for the family at www.carroll-lehr.com .