Roy Edwin Fuller Jr.

A resident of Raleigh’s Springmoor Retirement Community, Roy was 89.

He was born Nov. 22, 1926 in Durham’s Watts Hospital, where his mother had graduated as a registered nurse. Roy was the only child of Roy Edwin Fuller and Mable Chandler Fuller.

Roy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Katherine (Kitty) Winfield Fuller; son Roy Edwin Fuller III of Richmond, Va.; daughter Katherine Fuller Stokes and husband E. Lee Stokes III of Raleigh; grandchildren Laura Stokes Turner and husband Christopher of Charleston, S.C., Katie Leistra Dohrman and husband Kent of Richmond, Va., and Roy Edwin Fuller IV of Richmond. Roy and Kitty have three adorable great-grandchildren, Quinn, Olivia, and Charles.

A native of Raleigh, Roy attended Hayes Barton Elementary School (now Myrtle Underwood) and Broughton High School. At Broughton, he played saxophone in the school band and later with the Woody Hayes Dance Band during the World War II era. In 1945, Roy was accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. His basic training was in Pass Christian, Miss. on a new ship built by Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Roy sailed around the world twice, going through the Panama and Suez Canals. He saw the Middle East, Africa, China, Central and South America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippine Islands and Trinidad.

In 1946, Roy entered North Carolina State to study Civil Engineering, graduating with honors as a member of Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon and Phi Kappa Phi honorary fraternities and Delta Sigma Phi social fraternity. He was president of Delta Sigma Phi, Rho Chapter at N.C. State in 1948.

In 1950, he met and married Kitty, the love of his life. They moved to the Tidewater area of Virginia, where he began selling heavy construction equipment with Hampton Roads Tractor & Equipment Co. of Norfolk. He was promoted to Senior Vice President and Sales Manager. Roy was a member of the Jaycees, Tidewater Utility Contractors Association, Builders and Contractors Exchange, The Navy League, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Virginia Road Builders.

In 1980, Roy sold his interest in Hampton Roads Tractor & Equipment and joined Valjar Inc. as Executive Vice President and General Manager.

While living in Virginia, he taught Sunday School at Talbot Park Baptist Church in Norfolk, and served as deacon and moderator at First Baptist Church of Virginia Beach. He was a member of the Harbor Club and Princess Anne Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf. He was a member of the Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk and served as president in 1972. He also served as president of the Carolina June German Club in Virginia Beach in addition to being a member of the George W. Wright Masonic lodge, the Scottish Rite, Khedive Shrine Temple and the Royal Order of Jesters.

Upon retirement in 1988, Roy and Kitty returned to Raleigh to be near their daughter and granddaughter. They joined Hayes Barton Baptist Church and belonged to the Townsend Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Ole Raleigh Boys and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

A beloved, dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, Roy will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A Memorial service will be held 2 pm Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Hayes Barton Baptist Church 1800 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, the family will receive guests following the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27608, Springmoor Endowment Fund, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27615 or Rex Healthcare Foundation, Heart and Vascular Hospital Fund, 2500 Blue Ridge Road, Ste. 325, Raleigh, N.C. 27607.

Arrangements are under the care of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh, NC 27605. www.brownwynne.com