Willard "Bill" Fulghum

Willard S Fulghum Jr. died Thursday, November 15, 2018, at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N Pennsylvania Ave. with Pastor Kathy Graves and Ed Long Officiating.

Visitation be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Monday, November 19, 2018, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N Pennsylvania Ave.

Interment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery.


Willard Story Fulghum Jr was born September 3, 1921 in Mason City, son of Willard Story and Genevieve (Phipps) Fulghum. He was the oldest of four Fulghum children and the first of the second generation of this Mason City family; he received his early education in various rural schools and graduated in 1940 from Clear Lake High School. After graduation, he farmed with his father and brother on the family farm in Cerro Gordo County. In those early years he farmed with horses and when he was 21, he sustained a severe kick in the side by a horse causing him to lose one kidney. However, he fully recovered and never let this impact his zest for life. On May 19, 1943, he married Dorothy Murren. They were blessed with three children, Joanne, David, and Janiece.
Bill, as he was called, came from a family of hard working, innovative people. His first ancestors came to America in the mid 1600’s and operated 2750 acres of farmland near Smithfield, VA. The historic Old Brick Church, oldest brick church in America, is located on land donated by the family. Many Fulghums are buried in the cemetery around this church. In addition, three of his aunts began and operated the Story Hospital, the first hospital in Mason City.
In 1983, Willard married Charlotte Otterman and continued living in Mason City; Bill soon retired from farming and they spent 25 winters in Weslaco, Texas. To continue his relationship with farming, he worked for many years as an insurance crop and hail adjustor for Dawson Insurance Company and assisted long time farmer friends plant and harvest during the peak farming seasons. Bill was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City and later Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Charlotte and three siblings, Mary (Arnie) Pearson, Francis Fulghum and Russell Fulghum. He is survived by his three children, Joanne (David) Schumacher, Lincoln, CA, David Fulghum, Western Springs, IL, and Janiece Ehler, Abita Springs, LA; two step children, Kirk Otterman, Atlo, GA and Kent (Cathy) Otterman, Albert Lea, MN; six grandchildren, Bradley (Courtaney) Rampelberg, San Jose, CA, Kristen (Bryce) Martin, Toney, AL, Kaylyn (Amanda Schmidt) Ehler, Abita Springs, LA, Margaret Fulghum, Chicago, IL, Kate (Travis) Kokenes, La Grange Park, IL, Jake (Carol) Fulghum, Aurora, CO; two step grandchildren, Angela (Robert) Hoffman, Albert Lea, MN and Joshua (Anna) Otterman, St Louis, MO; eight great grandchildren, Carson, Andrew, Saryah, Caleb, Leyton, Addilyn, Jack, and Brinley; and two step great grandchildren, Ender and Iden.
Bill’s family invites all family and friends to join in celebrating his life.