Ches Fulton
Ches Fulton passed away peacefully at Hospice Niagara on Friday October 28, 2016, surrounded by loving family and friends, after a short battle with cancer.
This generous, witty, talkative and profoundly astute gentleman will be sorely missed in Huntsville where he and his wife Betty lived for 23 years, making huge contributions to the fabric of the community.
Ches came from modest means. He was born in Portapique Mountain, Nova Scotia on September 5, 1926 to Winfred and Pansy Fulton. His father died when he was only 12 and Ches left school at 14 to work as a farm labourer. He joined the army shortly before the end of the WW II, and, having trained in CFB Petawawa, found that life looked much brighter in Ontario.
Upon discharge, he moved to St. Catharines to live with his sister Jean and soon met Betty Hunter, who he married on August 26, 1950 and who was the love of his life. They were subsequently blessed with five children, Clyde (Judith), Larry (Donna), Brian (Lisa), Donna (Brian) and Scott (Cindy) and their chosen Bequian/Canadian son Amos Hanson (Alice).
After working at English Electric and then Penzer Products, Ches took a huge leap of faith and started his own successful business (Fulton Manufacturing Ltd.) in 1969. Upon retirement in 1993, Ches and Betty sold the business to their son Larry, allowing them to settle in Huntsville on a year-round basis, building a home on Peninsula Lake adjacent to the resort where they had honeymooned.
Their Huntsville home provided a waterfront location closer to town where Ches was only minutes away from his favourite pastimes of golf, skiing, curling and his morning coffee with his buddies at McDonald’s. It was a large property and there were few days he did not devote time to mowing grass and tending his garden in summer or plowing snow in winter.
Ches and Betty moved to a condominium in Huntsville in 2005, where they resided until relocating back to St. Catharines earlier this year due to Ches’ deteriorating health.
Mom and Dad loved their 23 years in Huntsville. They frequently spoke of how fortunate they felt and grateful they were to be welcomed into the tight community where they developed many close friends and came to know their civic, provincial and federal politicians on a first-name basis. They were actively involved in community life, as both participants and benefactors supporting many local building projects and programs such as the hospital, hospice, Chrysalis women’s shelter, the Algonquin Theatre and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, as well as the three churches they attended. They enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing the direct results of their benevolence benefit many in the community in a way that is often less visible in larger centres.Clyde Fulton, son
In recent years Ches and Betty became particularly close to Ken and Karen Hewitt, who they often referred to as their Huntsville family. In addition to friendship, Ken and Karen provided wonderful and greatly-appreciated support for them, particularly as Ches’ health began to fail and immediate family members were not close enough to provide the assistance they required.
Those who had the good fortune to know Ches are no doubt familiar with his sunny disposition, his ability to discern the important information from a conversation, and his love of story-telling. Those who did not know him, but were lucky enough to meet him on the off chance, will remember him in the same way.
He had a genuine interest in people and derived great joy from meeting and spending time with those he encountered in life. This was often manifested by a propensity for initiating conversations with total strangers, which meant that simple visits to the bank, a coffee shop or restaurant invariably lasted considerably longer than expected as he engaged employees and patrons alike in extended conversations. True to his Atlantic Canadian heritage, he was a natural storyteller and I doubt there are many who met him who had not also learned a considerable amount about his humble upbringing, his family, his business and his philosophies on life in general.Clyde Fulton, son
The family will receive friends at Hulse & English Funeral Home, 75 Church St., St. Catharines on Wednesday November 2 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Memorial donations would be greatly appreciated by the family and can be directed to Hospice Niagara, 403 Ontario Street, Unit 2, St. Catharines L2N 1L5, or Hospice Huntsville, 100 Frank Miller Drive, Huntsville P1H 1H7.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10th at 10:00 a.m., St. George’s Anglican Church, 83 Church Street, St. Catharines, with a reception to follow in the parish hall.
Sandra and I had the pleasure of getting to know Ches and Betty through their generous support of the Bequia Mission. They were always interested to learn more about Mission projects and have given willingly over the years to improve the lives of countless individuals, families, and charitable organizations in the tiny, Caribbean nation of St. Vincent And The Grenadines. Ches became more of a much-loved father than a sponsor, to many of the youngsters he and Betty supported, and their correspondence always contained proud anecdotes of their “adopted” children. I feel privileged to have been able to call Ches a friend, and to have witnessed his and Betty’s love and generosity of spirit first-hand. Ches will be sorely missed and the entire Fulton family are very much in our thoughts and prayers.
The service will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10th at 10:00 a.m., St. George’s Anglican Church, 83 Church Street, St. Catharines, with a reception to follow in the parish hall.
Twenty years ago, Ches and Betty Fulton were the first couple that we met at the table which we were seated on one of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation events. Ches was witty, pleasant and easy to converse with. Betty’s lovely and friendly face made me and my husband so blessed to have known them. He was my companion and a great partner at the golf course. At church dinner a great host to all of their friends in the community. My heartfelt condolences to you Bet and the whole family. May the soul of Ches Fulton in the mercy of God rest in peace.
Our thoughts to Betty and family after reading the news this morning. In the early days of our moving to Huntsville we met a number of ‘seniors’ (of which we are now one) who were people to be admired, with tons of integrity and knowledge that you just enjoyed being around. Ches was one of those leaders and it was our benefit to have know the both of you. Your mark on our community is an important and appreciated one.
Rob & Beth Saunders
It was pleasure and honor to know this wonderful couple and to experience their kindness, and thoughtfulness first hand. When I served as Mayor of this great town, which they loved so much, they were so supportive of me, and I will never forget what they did for my wife and myself and the love they had for this great community. Rest in Peace.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of this great man. He generously touched the lives of everyone who met him. And I don’t mean just monetarily. But on that note, I remember never being able to eat in the same restaurant as the pair without them paying my bill, even when we weren’t sitting at the same table.
He lived his life as a true Christian and no one would make a better role model in this regard. He is receiving his just reward right now.
Betty and family, I truly send my condolences to you.
Dear Betty & children,
My sincere condolences to you on the loss of your husband and your children on the loss of their father. After meeting the two of you at Thursday night bridge, I had the pleasure of knowing you for far too short a time. One encounters so few true gentlemen and ladies these days: It was an honour to find two in Huntsville.
Then, during my most recent hospital stay, I noticed that the entire room (fully-equipped) was donated by the two of you. I went on to become acquainted with the fulsome extent of your philanthropy in the community.
Ches wore his religion well; never a proselytizer, but always a fine example to all he met. Please advise Doppler when the date of the memorial service is determined.
My thoughts and prayers are with you,
Rob Millman
A truly sad passing. Ches will truly be missed. I was blessed to be numbered among the many who had known them and this is indeed a sad day. My condolences to the entire family.
My husband and I met Ches and Betty through the Bequia Mission, and were happy to be able to stop in and visit with them a couple of times on trips up to Canada. Ches was such a delightful person, full of fun, mischievous and flirtatious, with a heart of gold. He was such a blessing to so many people. He will be missed. Our hearts go out to Betty and the family.
Betty and Ches are two of the warmest, most giving people that we have ever met. Their lives have enriched the lives of so many and I know that I speak for my whole family and, Betty, your whole Huntsville and area “family” when I say thank you for your interest in others, your giving nature and your excitement and joy when helping others. Ches will live on in so many projects and so many people. I will always smile when I think of the Fultons.
Our thoughts are with you, Betty, at this time.
Nancy Gibson and family
A lovely man and a true gentleman so grateful to have known Ches. Our sympathy to Betty and family. Sincerely with love Carl and Sue Dixon
We have been blessed by being part of Ches & Betty’s wide circle of friends. Ches has touched many parts of our lives, whether it was golf, curling, bridge, worship or many other of his wide accomplishments. We are saddened to learn of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with Betty and the family.
A wonderful couple. Ches your outgoing personality will be truly missed. Thanks to both Ches and Betty for supporting the Huntsville community. We have truly been the benefactor of your generosity.
Fran and Ron
I was very sorry to learn of the death of Ches Fulton. For a man who was born into a family of very modest means, he accomplished a great deal during his lifetime. He was a supporter of a number of Huntsville organizations and did a lot for the Huntsville community. The fact that his employees were so loyal to his company speaks volumes about his humanity. Chesley’s life is certainly one to celebrate
Ches & Betty were the “Welcome Wagon” of Rebecca Lake. They were so friendly & helpful when we first moved onto the lake. Ches’ friendly smile will always be missed.
His bright smile and happy disposition will be greatly missed by those of us at Saint Johns Anglican Church at Ravenscliffe.
He was a great man indeed both locally and internationally. Sacrificed a lot to make people’s lives better especially when it came to the younger generation.
Dear Betty and Ches’s beloved family; My sincere condolences to all of you. Yes, Ches was a treasure of a human being. I’m grateful that our lives’ mingled. This was a beautifully written story about Ches. Sending love to all of you.
Peace be with you,
Sandy
The Fultons are 2 of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting.
God Bless them both. RIP Ches.