Dennis Arthur Fullerton
Feb. 24, 1948-Sept. 30, 2015
Killeen, Texas
Submitted by Trish Fullerton

Dennis was born in 1948 in Joplin, Missouri, to Carl and Della Fullerton. Dennis, his older sister Pat, and parents moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah, when he was a child. Dennis found his talent as an artist early on and attended a summer symposium at University of Kansas between his junior and senior years in high school. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1971 with a BFA in drawing and painting, minoring in psychology and architecture. After graduation, he and his first wife Sheryl Bennett, moved to Redwood City, California, expecting to live among the redwoods, but were disappointed to learn that the majority of them had been cut down long before. Dennis worked at the esteemed Smith-Anderson Art Gallery in downtown Palo Alto, and later opened his own frame shop nearby. At the gallery and in his shop he met, became friends with and studied with many notable Bay Area artists. He later taught papermaking and monotype printmaking at several colleges and schools in the Bay Area.

Dennis became a licensed California Realtor 1976, obtaining his broker's license in 1978. Dennis worked at Taylor Properties, Cornish and Cary, Victoria Properties, and Fox & Carskadon. He organized Ramsey and Reed Real Estate in Palo Alto. He served on the board of directors of the Palo Alto Board of Realtors.

Dennis had a passion for flying: whether hang gliding, flying gliders or his Cessna. He lived to ride his motorcycles and drive his Corvette. He loved art and poetry, birds and creating fine meals. He was a very entertaining man.

After he and Sheryl divorced in the mid-1980s, he took a couple of summers off to live in Rome where he was enthralled with the art, architecture, language and culture of that ancient city. Many of his more recent works reflect that experience. He was also intrigued with Mayan art, architecture and culture and spent a lot of time in Mexico studying their culture. Mayan symbolism became a recognizable element in his works. Most of his paintings follow the style of painting known as the San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism. No matter where he was living or what else he was doing, Dennis drew and painted almost every day.

Dennis was stricken with colon cancer in 1989. He refused to join a support group because "those people were dying," and he had a lot yet to do. Before every chemo or radiation treatment, he thanked those who were treating him. They soon became part of his team, and he survived against all odds.

He met Trish Fullerton, advertising art director, graphic designer, viticulturist and winemaker at his cousin Gary Gilstrap's "Thank You for Planting My Vineyard" party in Johnson City, Texas, on Sept. 14, 1996, at 4:10 p.m. It was love at first sight. A long-distance love affair ensued, and Trish finally relented and moved to Mountain View, California, in August 1997. The pair were later married at Becker Vineyards in Stonewall, Texas, on Oct. 10, 1998, which is also Trish's parents' anniversary.

Dennis and Trish moved to San Saba, Texas, in July of 2008. Dennis was moved to the Windcrest Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Copperas Cove in December of 2010 and then to Rosewood Assisted Living facility in Killeen in 2015.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Carl Weston Fullerton, and his mother, Della Florence Powell Fullerton. He is survived by his wife Patricia (Trish) Williams Fullerton, mother-in-law Louise Williams and brother-in-law David Williams of San Saba, Texas; sister-in-law Deborah Williams Lockhart, Adam and Kari Lockhart, and Amy Lockhart and Kelsey Haub, all of Dallas, Texas; brother-in-law Joe and Jacinta Williams of Burnet, Texas; nephew Joe III and Robin Williams, Alana Williams, Walker Phillips and Jaycee Staggs of Lewisville, Texas; niece Katherine Williams of Estes Park, Colorado; Dr. Elizabeth and Joel Daniels, Gibson and Calvin Daniels of Cincinnati, Ohio; Dennis' sister Patricia (Pat) Fullerton Fenton and her husband Lee of Fairview, Utah; nephew Clay and Wendy Fenton, Elora, Jacob and Benjamin of Orem, Utah; niece Robyn and Eric Tischner, Shaley and Cody Lowe of Springville, Utah; cousin Gary and Kathy Gilstrap of Johnson City, Texas; and cousin Deanna and Jim Stewart of Ridgecrest, California; Sheryl Fullerton and Janet Knipe of Oakland, California.

Dennis passed away in Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple on Sept. 30, 2015, just as the last glimmer of the sun sank over the horizon. He will be greatly missed.