Thursday, May 29, 2008
Well Known Mingo County Educator Dies.
WILLIAMSON – Arville Murril Fultz had a remarkable career as an educator in Mingo County for nearly a half century and his imprints upon education will remain for future generations of educators to study and emulate.He passed on an enthusiasm for teaching during his years of molding the minds of his students, and was an example to principals during the years he served in that capacity at Main Building Grade School in Williamson.At 88 years of age, Fultz died unexpectedly Tuesday, May 27, at his home on West Sixth Avenue where he resided with his wife of 66 years, Geneva Ward Fultz. Despite poor health in his final years, Fultz showed an unbelievable fortitude as he walked around his neighborhood with the aid of a walker, greeting neighbors and exhibiting an interest in everything.This highly respected educator was born in Ashland, Ky., on Aug. 16, 1919, the son and only child of the late William Edward and Mary Meade Fultz. The family returned to Maher, the home of his mother, when Fultz was a young child. He grew up there and lived there after his marriage until the couple moved to West Williamson in 1996, an act that followed the 1977 flood. The Fultz home was one of numerous homes razed in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ floodproofing program.
He was an exceptional teenager, graduating from Lenore High School at age 14 and earning his first college degree from Concord College by the time he reached 17 years of age. He later earned a master’s degree from Marshall University.After teaching elementary education at Dingess, Road Branch and East Williamson, he was transferred to Main Building Grade School where he later was elevated to the principalship. He retired in 1982.He and the former Geneva Ward, also an educator, met during the early years of their teaching careers and married on Nov. 1, 1941, about five weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor that plunged this nation into World War II.He put his teaching career on hold when he was inducted into the United States Army on Sept. 11, 1942. His military occupational specialty was that of Radio Controlled Target Airplane officer and his tour of duty included service in Alaska. He was honorably discharged from active duty on March 15, 1946 and resumed his career in education.Besides his long career of dealing with children and education, Fultz was an active member of the Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church where he formerly taught Sunday School and served as a member of the Building committee. No greater tribute could be given him than the high esteem in which he was held by those in his profession and by parents and children with whom he came in contact for so many years as a teacher and a principal.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Bridget Call (an award-winning teacher of Mingo County), her husband, Greg, and a grandson, Heath Call, all of Delbarton; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as friends of his church and in the school system.Visitations were held Wednesday evening at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson, where funeral services were to be conducted at 1 p.m. today (May 29). The Rev. W.L. Bostic was to officiate and burial was to follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher with full military honors. Weaver Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.The family welcomes floral tributes or memorial contributions to the Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church, or Dignity Hospice of Southern West Virginia.
Courtesy : Williamson Daily News.
He was an exceptional teenager, graduating from Lenore High School at age 14 and earning his first college degree from Concord College by the time he reached 17 years of age. He later earned a master’s degree from Marshall University.After teaching elementary education at Dingess, Road Branch and East Williamson, he was transferred to Main Building Grade School where he later was elevated to the principalship. He retired in 1982.He and the former Geneva Ward, also an educator, met during the early years of their teaching careers and married on Nov. 1, 1941, about five weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor that plunged this nation into World War II.He put his teaching career on hold when he was inducted into the United States Army on Sept. 11, 1942. His military occupational specialty was that of Radio Controlled Target Airplane officer and his tour of duty included service in Alaska. He was honorably discharged from active duty on March 15, 1946 and resumed his career in education.Besides his long career of dealing with children and education, Fultz was an active member of the Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church where he formerly taught Sunday School and served as a member of the Building committee. No greater tribute could be given him than the high esteem in which he was held by those in his profession and by parents and children with whom he came in contact for so many years as a teacher and a principal.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Bridget Call (an award-winning teacher of Mingo County), her husband, Greg, and a grandson, Heath Call, all of Delbarton; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as friends of his church and in the school system.Visitations were held Wednesday evening at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson, where funeral services were to be conducted at 1 p.m. today (May 29). The Rev. W.L. Bostic was to officiate and burial was to follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens at Maher with full military honors. Weaver Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.The family welcomes floral tributes or memorial contributions to the Chattaroy Missionary Baptist Church, or Dignity Hospice of Southern West Virginia.
Courtesy : Williamson Daily News.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 11:28 PM 
