Obituary: Thomas Ralph Fuller - Class of 1945

LOUISVILLE, KY - Thomas Ralph Fuller, age 83 of Destin, Fla., formerly of Louisville, Ky., died on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, in the presence of his family.

Tom was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on April 14, 1927, and was raised in Madison. He graduated from Madison Central High School in 1945, where he lettered in track, basketball, and football. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1949. He began a career with the former Thomas Industries Inc. as a sales trainee in Fort Atkinson, in 1945, and progressed to the position of president, chief executive officer and board member of Thomas Industries, from which he retired in 1991. During his career he served as an executive committee member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors, chaired the Economic and Air Services Committee of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, and was an executive committee member of Project 2000 for the City of Louisville. From 1988 to 1994, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the former National City Bank (First National Bank) during which time he served as a member of its executive committee and chaired its audit committee.

Tom married the former Jeannette Ellen Faust on June 24, 1948. She preceded him in death on October 31, 1999. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Christine Ellen Fuller, and his parents.

He is survived by three sons, Michael (Kathy), Daniel (Alishia) and Christopher (Christa); nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Joseph Herring), Caroline, Thomas, Amanda, Brittany, Erin, Michael, Danielle and Megan; and a great-grandchild, Avery. He is also survived by his second wife, Betty Jo Cofer; his brother, Richard D. Fuller (Jan); and two sisters-in-law, Caryl Bremer (Howard) and Ellen Faust.

Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010, at PEARSON FUNERAL HOME, 149 Breckenridge Lane, with a memorial service at Pearson Funeral Home immediately following the visitation. There will be a private family burial service on Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at Cave Hill Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Trinity High School, 4007 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 5, 2010