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FULTON, VAUGHN CLAAR—Vaughn Claar Fulton was born to Alva Henry Fulton and Blanche June Collins Fulton on March 13, 1925, at Colome, S.D., and passed away March 11, 2009, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, at the age of 83 years, just two days before his 84th birthday. He was one of three children. Vaughn was married to Marian Neiman, of Fullerton, Calif., on June 21, 1947, and to them three children were born.
Vaughn was active in the United Methodist Church and in his community. Some of the organizations to which he belonged and held numerous...
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FULTON, VAUGHN CLAAR—Vaughn Claar Fulton was born to Alva Henry Fulton and Blanche June Collins Fulton on March 13, 1925, at Colome, S.D., and passed away March 11, 2009, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, at the age of 83 years, just two days before his 84th birthday. He was one of three children. Vaughn was married to Marian Neiman, of Fullerton, Calif., on June 21, 1947, and to them three children were born.
Vaughn was active in the United Methodist Church and in his community. Some of the organizations to which he belonged and held numerous positions over the years were the Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska York Rite of Free-Masons, the Geneva Lodge, the American Legion and the Sesostris Shrine.
He lived on his family’s farm with his parents and two sisters until 1934. A combination of the Great Depression, the sandstorms, grasshopper plagues and the drought of the Dust Bowl, led Vaughn’s then 48 year-old father, who had always earned a living as a farmer, to search for a new beginning for his family. That search led them to Geneva. He determined it was a small town where a hardware store would thrive as an asset to the community and as a means to support his family.
Vaughn’s story after he arrived in Geneva is really a love story, shared with family, friends and community. The promise of Geneva was woven deeply into a life that became a dream come true; full of good times, a meaningful career, many friends, business associates and a happy family.
After high school, Vaughn had a Navy career. Along with his friend, John Bixby, he was stationed in California. It was there he met Marian, the love of his life. Just before being shipped to Europe, the war ended and he headed back to Nebraska to attend Wesleyan University. At Wesleyan he studied business, played on the basketball and football teams and looked forward to a college degree. His plan was interrupted by the sudden death of his father in an auto accident.
After just a year in school, he had a big decision to make. Was he ready to take over the Gamble Store? His father’s shoes were big ones to fill. And then there was the question of Marian. They had decided that if they still felt the same about each other after he finished college, they would get married. What would she think if he didn’t finish college? Would not having that education affect his ability to run the store? And then she was a California girl; what would she think of Nebraska? Would she be able to stand the snow and cold? Would she be able to survive without the ocean she so loved?
Vaughn and Marian decided Geneva was the place to raise a family and the wedding took place six weeks later in Marian’s home. They began 35 years of married life with a honeymoon at Lake Tahoe, followed by a road trip to Nebraska. They moved into their first home in what was affectionately called the “courts”—old barracks housing that left a lot to be desired. Vaughn adapted quickly to running the store. He found he could provide for himself and his new wife and within a year they moved and began a family.
Vaughn raised his family with his love of people and his pride in his adopted “hometown.” A third move took them to the neighborhood where his children grew up and learned so much from him. Lessons abounded—taking care of what you have is important and honorable work, honor God, obey His commandments and support your church; nothing is worth doing unless you do it well, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Like his business, his friends and their families were part of everyday life.
Everyone worked hard but they played together as well. They lived rich lives with a strong thread of never forgotten memories. Just imagine the laughter that went along with waking up every morning to hear the “HEE-HAW” of Amigo—the Gewacke’s donkey living in the pasture behind Fulton’s house, or the memories of backyard barbecues and swimming in the Bixby pool, or watching a portly “Uncle Charles” (aka Dr. Ashby) riding the family’s Shetland pony, Chip, so he would stop bucking, or picture one Easter morning when many of the neighborhood children woke with glee to a surprise box from an anonymous gifter on their front steps and the subsequent mortification of their parents when the contents revealed a real live Billy goat. It didn’t take long to realize that prankster; Shem Ashby had been up to fun again. The end of that story is that Marian, an animal lover, took care of the goat until one fateful day when, after the goat had a meal of the redwood siding on the house and another of neighbor Bruce Doll’s tractor grill, the goat got a new home on a farm.
As with many of the neighborhoods in Geneva, Vaughn’s neighbors, the Biba’s, Lauber and Lauber, Ashby and Ashby, the Wilkins’ and the Bixby’s had a strong sense of taking care of one another. They shared frequent visits, watched their kids play basketball in their driveways and swung in their backyards.
His love of people shone through his daily activities—whether it was telling a funny story, helping someone in an emergency or working on a project to help Geneva be the best it could be. Once in a while, his family rolled their eyes at the results of his customer service; like the time Marian’s new stereo system vanished from the living room, because it was just what someone really needed—right now. Or the rubber meals the family endured so that Marian could fill him in on the perfect timing to help customers when microwaves first hit the market.
There was the Saturday morning when the kids went to mow the lawn and the riding mower was gone—sold again—only to learn that, that day’s work was to be done using a push mower. With Vaughn it didn’t matter if it was a phone call on Saturday night because a worried spouse had forgotten a birthday and just had to have a present, or if Christmas morning festivities had to be delayed as he rushed to the store because a parent forgot to pick up a toy being held in layaway; or if Mrs. Carlson called him to get her cat out of the tree again; he lived for his customers.
As Vaughn’s family grew, so did his business. The store that opened in 1934 with Vaughn as chief floor sweeper started in a building with about 2, 400 square feet, a total of $1,200 in merchandise and $150 in fixtures. In 1952, Fulton Furniture was added. By the time the store celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1974, the family of employees had grown to over 20, the floor space had reached over 24, 000 square feet, and Lawrence Loontjer had joined the team as assistant manager. Their sons, Bill Fulton and Glen Loontjer, sold fireworks in front of the Gamble store; a business Vaughn sold to the Loontjer’s in 1985 and Glen runs so well today.
During some of the busiest years of running the store he also had other business endeavors. Vaughn was the consummate problem solver. When there simply weren’t enough homes to be found in Geneva, he fostered the idea of a new housing area to keep the town growing and alive.
Along with his good friend, John Bixby and their partner, John Wilkins—after many weeks of planning and trying out various names for the new housing area—“Skylark” addition became a reality on the north end of town. He bought the theatre so the town’s kids would have a place for entertainment (even though his daughters thought it was probably so he could keep an eye on them). And when Main Street was without a place to eat, he renovated the front of one of his stores into a restaurant so it would make easier for an aspiring business owner to get started.
The 50th anniversary of the store in 1984 was bittersweet as it followed Marian’s death. When life was challenging you would hear Vaughn say “put in a Good Word.” He counted on the church and his neighbors to pull him through and as they have over the years, they embraced him. Soon, with the help of people like his good friend, Jim Brumbaugh to liven up the environment, he was passing his days full of joy again.
During the 70’s and 80’s, Vaughn also spent time with his growing family. He loved being with his grandchildren. Whether watching horse shows, ballet, or baseball, he was totally entertained by their antics. He kept them engaged with his wonderful stories, always ending his visits with that special blow on the neck that made everyone laugh and feel loved. His discipline had just the right touch of humor and seriousness to let everyone know when he meant business. If the “eagle landed” –that tight grasp of thumb and fingers around a shoulder or knee—anyone who served as the landing strip knew it was time to shape up in a hurry.
Vaughn was a terrific dancer. He and Marian had a large living room. It wasn’t unusual for them to turn on the stereo and take a spin to one of their favorites like Nat King Cole. It was Vaughn’s love of dancing that led him to attend a dance in Utica with friends, the place where he met his second wife, Betty, whom he married in 1993.
Vaughn eventually sold the furniture store in 1994; 60 years after his family started a business to which he devoted much of his life. Even though he sold the store, he kept an office in the back, spending time there every morning and afternoon for the past 15 years. Years passed, as did some of his family and friends. Though change can be difficult, Vaughn trusted God and believed in His plan, always keeping a smile on his face, a positive attitude around the clock, a warm greeting for everyone he encountered and a passion for being busy and finding ways to contribute.
The past several years, when independence was important and he decided it was past his time for driving on highways, John Hofferber became his driver, enabling him to travel to see family and gain a new friend at the same time. As the changes continued, he began to work harder to make sure he followed a daily routine; be out of the house by 8:30—head to the Fitness Center three times a week, to the office the other three days and then to church on Sunday. Coffee was with the guys at about 9:15 and then back to the office. Lunch was at the Senior Center where Linda Nunns fed him with love. He gained a new understanding of the importance of the fellowship-everyone experiences there. After lunch he had a nap, went to coffee at 3 and then back to the office. That is unless of course it was Wednesday, when he and Doc Charles held their weekly drive to inspect the town and surrounding countryside.
Over the years, some of Vaughn’s greatest escapades were in the passenger seat, navigating for Charles. One of the most recent was a good case in point. Sharon Brooke is a dear friend who helped Vaughn with keeping the house even before Marian passed away. One Friday, when Sharon arrived to do the weekly cleaning, Vaughn was waiting for her in the kitchen with a solemn face. He told her he had something he’d better tell her before someone else did.
So she sat down, only to learn about the trip that Charles, Vaughn, Claiton Lauber and Kenny Hofferber took to “check out” Lonestar lake when it was being built.
Imagine Sharon trying to keep a straight face as he told her how they got stuck in a sort of gully by a trestle and they knew they were in a bit of a spot. Realizing they need some help, Charles tried his cell phone, to no avail. There was no cell coverage. They talked about walking for help, but then realized Charles wasn’t in good enough shape; Claiton couldn’t hear, Vaughn couldn’t see; and Kenny couldn’t walk—that meant none of them was going to go for help. Finally, Charles walked a short distance from the car and his phone worked. Soon a tow truck came, saved them from themselves and gave them another story to tell.
Vaughn cared about the “backroom” of making Geneva successful. He talked often of the wonderful little town with the wide streets, compliments of Jim Biba’s vision, the importance of keeping competition alive at home and how helpful a trusted, smart and wise local banker is to keeping businesses like his thriving in rural communities.
He loved to welcome and learn about new businesses or new people who came to town, knowing that they too could grow to love Geneva and take part in its success. This man some called “Mr. Geneva” felt so blessed and was so grateful to have lived his life in a town that was part of the fabric of his being. He leaves us all with a legacy of love and many thanks for helping to make his world a wonderful one.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Blanche Fulton; sisters, Ruthadel and Lurene; wife, Marian; great-grandson Mitchell McKelvey Bond, and his second wife, Betty Diekhoff Fulton.
He is survived by three children, daughters, Niki Wilder and husband, Lon; Terri Arnold and husband, Michael; and son Bill; grandchildren, Mitch Wilder and wife Karen; Traci Bond; Megan and Brent Arnold; and his great-grandson, Waylon Wilder.
Services for Vaughn were conducted March 20 at the United Methodist Church in Geneva with Pastor Ron Harris officiating. Judy Ackland accompanied the congregation in the singing of “The is the Day the Lord Hath Made, “Amazing Grace,” and “Blessed Assurance”. The recessional hymn was “What a Wonderful World.”
Pallbearers for the service included Mitch Wilder, Brent Arnold, Bob Brooke, David Portwood, Ron Barnett and Jim Ashby.
Interment was held in the Geneva Public Cemetery.
The Nebraska Signal March 25th, 2009 page 8. |
