DR. FRANK CHARLES FULLER, JR

Dr. Fuller, 79, passed on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden, Al. He was surrounded by his family as he transitioned peacefully to his Heavenly Home.

Dr. Fuller was born in 1945 in Clinchco, a tiny coal mining town in southwestern Virginia. His father, grandfather and many other relatives were coal miners. Often, the only time young Frank could spend time with his father was just before bedtime. As his father was cleaning up from work, young Frank would sit and talk with him. But he always forgot to shut the bathroom door. Thus as a youngster, Frank was given the nickname Richard, after the chorus of a popular song of the time.

Dr. Fuller first attended school in a quon set hut in nearby Clintwood. He graduated from Ervinton High School in 1963. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Berea College in Kentucky, in 1967. Dr. Fuller was awarded fellowships from the National Defense Education Act and the National Science Foundation to continue his education at what was then Virginia Polytechnic University (Virginia Tech). He earned his Master of Science in Statistics in 1970, and PhD in Statistics in 1972. Following graduation, Dr. Fuller moved to Alabama to begin teaching at Jacksonville State University. He spent his entire 35-year career teaching Business Statistics at the College of Commerce and Business Administration until his retirement in 2007 when he received professor emeritus status. Dr. Fuller was known for his colorful sports coats and coordinating ties.

He enjoyed watching Kentucky Wildcats basketball and Virginia Tech Hokie football, working crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, and reading the Bible, as well as other books.

Dr. Fuller is preceded in death by his parents, Frank C. Fuller, Sr. and Kitty Fuller; siblings, Ronald Fuller and wife Carole, Peggy Yates and husband Olin, and Dorothy Burns; and in-laws, Charles “Charlie” Lucas and Orpha Lucas.

Left to cherish his memory include his wife of 52 years, Brenda of Jacksonville, Al.; two daughters, Sesalea of Fredericksburg, and Elizabeth and husband Michael of Oviedo, Fl.; his pride and joys, his grandchildren: his “boy”, Rhett, his “honey”, Ava, and “mister” Henry; one sister, Lois and husband, Eddie, of Abingdon; brother in-law, James, of Dallas, Tx.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Dr. Frank Charles Fuller will be conducted at noon, Monday, April 22, 2024, at Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, 80 Donnie Dean Dr, Castlewood, Va., 24224, with Pastor Joe Hutchinson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Dr. Fuller will be laid to rest beside his father in the family plot at Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tn., 38105, or online at www.stjude.org/donate.

The family would like to acknowledge and extend their deepest thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of the Critical Care Unit at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden. Dr. Fuller received exceptional care and compassion from everyone. Online condolences may be sent to the Fuller family through our website and a video tribute may be viewed at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com.

Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.