Joseph Fulbright

Joseph Fulbright, Sr., 84, of Waco, died peacefully at his home with his family by his side on Sept. 19, 2009.


Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco with Msgr. Mark Deering as celebrant.

Deacons Jeff Heiple and Greg George will assist in the service. Burial with military honors will be at Rosemound Cemetery in Waco. Rosary will be recited on Monday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco with Father David Leibham as celebrant.

Visitation will be held following the rosary from 6:30 to 8:00 at the St. Joseph's Hall, at Reicher High School, 2102 N. 23rd Street.

He was born on May 15, 1925 in Waco, the son of Henry Grady Fulbright, Sr. and Annie Lola Beaty Fulbright. He graduated from Waco High School in 1943 and served in the Army in World War II. He was a member of the 43rd Division, 169th Field Artillery Battalion, and served in the Pacific in New Zealand, New Guinea, the Philippines, and the occupation of Japan. He was in the class of 1947 at Texas A&M University and received his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering.

In 1951, he started his career at General Dynamics in Ft. Worth and later went to work at Magnolia Petroleum Company in Oklahoma. He married JoEllen Culwell on May 31, 1952 and they were blessed to share 57 years together, raising 8 children. He began working at Rocketdyne in McGregor in 1955, and left in 1956 to return to Texas A&M to obtain his masters degree in mechanical engineering. He then returned to Rocketdyne and worked on the space programs from Mercury through the Space Shuttle. He retired as Chief Engineer at Hercules, Inc. in McGregor in 1993 after working 35 years.

Lloyd was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church since its inception, and he served as coordinator of the Hospital Visitation Committee for several years. He enjoyed attending his wife's performances with Sweet Adelines, going with family members to the beach, working on cars and home repairs, boating, fishing, hunting, attending his children's events, and especially attending high school football games where his son Pat coaches at Midway. He was a loving family man who would help anyone in need. When he saw that something needed to be done, he jumped right in and went to work. His love for his family and friends will be treasured by all those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Henry Grady (Buddy) Fulbright, Jr., a grandson, Nathan Lawson Lewis, a nephew, Richard Michael (Ricky) Fulbright, and a great-nephew, Christopher Kyle Fulbright.

He is survived by his wife JoEllen, his brothers and their spouses, John W. Fulbright, and wife Anna of Waco and Edward B. Fulbright, Sr. and wife Marilyn of Dallas; sisters Sr. Mary Fulbright of Ft. Worth, and Martha Verme and husband Jim of Potomac, Md. His children, daughters Linda Watts and husband Brian of Dallas, Mary Alice Lewis of Hewitt, Barbara Worley and husband Fred of Waco, Sue Ellen Meyer of Clear Lake, and Rose Abshire and husband Danny of Magnolia; sons and spouses Joseph Fulbright, Jr. and wife Jerri of McGregor, Grady Fulbright and wife Jennifer of West, and Patrick Fulbright and wife Connie of Waco; his grandchildren Heather, Erin and Colleen Watts, Justin and wife Sarah, Jason and Alyssa Lewis, Trey and wife Jaime Worley, Jared and Jessica Kahanek, Courtney Hunt-Atwood and husband Jason, Wesley and Kristen Meyer, Jerred, Jourdan and Jocelyn Fulbright, Shylar and D.J. Abshire; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Worley, Tia Atwood, and Elliott Lewis; sisters-in law Carleen Owen, Carolyn Greenawalt and husband Phil, Patsy Jackson; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many dear friends.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Bluebonnet Hospice and Visiting Angels for making his time at home with his family possible.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of Saint Mary, 909 W. Shaw St., Ft. Worth, TX 76110.