Donald Walter Fuller

He was born on September 20, 1925 in Keene, the son of Arthur and Ruth (Rugg) Fuller.

Don graduated from Keene High School in 1943 and began his 65-year long career with the Markem Machine Company, now Markem-Imaje. He started at age 16 as a machinist and then a tool and die maker. He worked his way up into a sales position responsible for all territory east of the Mississippi River plus Canada. He then taught himself to be an engineering draftsman. This experience led to his being in charge of the company’s Documents Department, controlling the blueprint, and then digital inventory of machines and parts. Don had so much knowledge about the company and its products, the position of “Information Specialist” was created just for him. In 1984, Don received global recognition as the company’s “Customer Care Taker of the Year”

After retirement, Don continued to work on the machines he was familiar with at Markem. He and a group of three friends and fellow retirees were asked by the company’s CEO to maintain and grow a company archive and museum. Together they would restore, document and display the old machinery.

Don also enjoyed tinkering with clocks and was self-taught in wind-up repair. It truly was a hobby of his as he was always fixing clocks for friends “at cost”. His reputation spread, and he had records of well over 1000 completed repairs.

Don was a dance enthusiast in his youth and taught square dancing for some time. He also enjoyed the “town” dances that were then popular. This brought him and the love of his life together, as he and his future bride were introduced at a dance by her brother. On July 26, 1952 Don married Beverly Fisher. They shared many wonderful years together and enjoyed traveling near and far before her death in 2015.

Don was a kind man who found great pleasure in helping others. He centered his life around family. He was extremely social and had many friends through work, his love of antique cars and membership with the Studebaker Driver’s Club (both International and Tri-State), and involvement in the Swanzey Preservation Society where he helped in the restoration of the town’s historic Grange building.

Don will be dearly missed by his two sons: Terry Fuller and Darren Fuller both of Swanzey; sisters: Faith Cody of Danville, VA, and Alice Brocus and her husband Jamie of Beech Island, SC; and nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and numerous friends.

His is predeceased by his wife of 63 years: Beverly Fuller; sisters: Elaine Wilk and Dorothy Bragg; brothers-in-law: Allen Wilk and Paul Cody; and former brother-in-law: Harold Bragg.

Family and friends are invited to call from 10 to 11 am on Monday, February 5th at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 Maple Ave, Keene, NH, with a Funeral Service beginning at 11:00 am. Spring burial will take place in the family plot at Mountain View Cemetery in Swanzey, NH.

While flowers will be gladly accepted, memorial contributions may be made in Donald W. Fuller’s name to the Swanzey Preservation Society, PO Box 10323, Swanzey, NH 03446.