Charles Watson Tull

A son of Charles W. Tull, Sr. and Margaret Melanie Hawkins Tull, Mr. Tull was born November 26, 1920 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family later moved to Asheville North Carolina. Mr. Tull graduated from Sewanee Military Academy where he played football, was on the rifle team and won the Herst Trophy. He furthered his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he pledged Phi Delta Theta and was on the boxing team. Mr. Tull also attended the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., where he was a member of the drum and bugle corps, as well as the Glee Club.

Mr. Tull served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army MP Corps, serving in England, France and Germany. After the war, Mr. Tull moved to Cleveland, TN where he started the Cherokee Foods Co.; two years later he moved to Durham, NC to work for his cousin, Frank Kenan, and learn the oil distribution business. In 1954, Mr. Tull moved to Charlotte, NC to open Tull Oil Co. as the Phillips Oil Co. Distributor for Charlotte. In 1974, Mr. Tull changed careers and began Tull Development Co., which was very active in real estate investment and management. Mr. Tull regularly came to the office, even into his late 80's. An excellent businessman, he was successful in many different endeavors.

Mr. Tull was a longtime member of Myers Park Civitan Club, Charlotte City Club, Charlotte Country Club and Biltmore Forest Country Club. He and his wife, Phyllis, enjoyed traveling the world and the serenity of their beloved Challis Farm. After Phyllis passed away in 2002, Mr. Tull married the former JoAnn Moore on June 7, 2004; together they enjoyed a late in life romance and wonderful time at the Cypress and Debordeau, SC.

Mr. Tull loved hunting, fishing and golf, and possessed a charming wit, always having a joke or funny story to tell. He deeply loved all of his family and was warm and generous to everyone.

Mr. Tull was predeceased by his first wife, Phyllis Brown Tull; a daughter, Frances Melanie Tull; a sister, Frances Tull Phillips; and brother, Rhesa Read Tull.

Mr. Tull is survived by his wife, JoAnn Moore Tull; daughter, Sarah Phyllis Burns; and sons, Charles Christopher Tull and David Bethel Tull. Also surviving him are his grandchildren, Mollie Frazier Keith, Eliza Burns and David Andrew Burns; and great-grandchildren, Paul Keith, Campbell Keith and Andrew Burns; as well as his step-daughters, Ann Earnhardt Murry, Josephine Kosciusko; and step-granddaughters, Elizabeth Murry and Sarah Murry Hunt.

Mr. Tull’s family will receive friends from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 1st at the Cypress in the Community Room with a celebration of Mr. Tull’s life following from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the home of his niece, Dorothy Tull Mothershead, 1201 Scotland Avenue. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 2nd at Christ Church, 1412 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207, with a graveside service following at 4:00 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville.

Special thanks is expressed to Victoria Afful, Betty Reynolds and Eddie Edwards, whose love and care of our Dad is greatly appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to Christ Church or Thompson Child and Family Focus, 6800 Saint Peters Lane, Matthews, NC 28105.