Evelyn Fulton

Evelyn June Fulton, of Washington, died July 2, 2021, at the Republic County Hospital in Belleville.

She was born Dec. 10, 1933, to Frank and Mary (James) Turinisky, of Morrowville.

She was a child of the straining days of the Depression, riding her horse to a rural school and helping her parents with the chores on their small Kansas farm. Evelyn graduated from Morrowville High School in 1951. A better than average student, and apparently a pretty good sax player.

Her joy of people and her compulsion to help others, and taking her inspiration from an older aunt, she formulated a plan to attend nursing school. An anxious mother and a cautious, reflective father put her on the train to Mary Mount College, Salina. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in nursing.

While working at a Salina hospital, an evening outing set up by a friend of Evelyn’s arranged a get together with her boyfriend and his friend stationed at the nearby Air Force base. It was in this meeting that she met her future husband, Simon Fulton.On May 14, 1955, in the witness of friends and family, Simon Solomon and Evelyn June were married.

She spent a large part of her nursing career working at the Washington County Hospital. If you lived in Washington in the ‘60s through the ‘80s, and you, a family member, or everyone you cared to know, chances are you were wheeled, prepped, cleaned, swabbed, stitched, checked, medicated, or generally nursed back to health with Evelyn’s help.

Evelyn and Simon were blessed with six children, living in the large two-story house on the southeast edge of town. When her kids were grown, she and Simon eventually moved back to the small house where they first lived in Washington, where earlier her parents lived. She went to work for the MarCon Pie Company, yes to make pies, but probably, mostly, to be among people and their conversations.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Simon in 2012; daughter, Virginia Fulton; brother-in-law, Eddie Popelka; and granddaughter, Katie Welch.

She’s survived by her younger sister Barbara Popelka, Belleville; six children, Victoria (Thomas) Chisham, Topeka, Vivian (Michael) Grothe, Wamego, Vanessa Plaster, Wichita, Vaughn (Agatha) Fulton, Albuquerque, N.M., Virgil (Cheryl) Fulton, Derby and Verlin (Kristie) Fulton, Washington; 10 grandchildren, Heather, Olivia, Trevor, Travis, Trisha, Sophia, Elizabeth, Addison, Ellison and Lillian; nine great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; nephews, nieces and close friends.

If one’s life has a theme, Evelyn’s theme would have been “caregiver”. She gave to her community, to friends, to her family, to her husband. At her core, she didn’t choose to be a caregiver… she had to be a caregiver. The need lived in her, love made her act upon that need, and she left this world better for it.

A memorial fund is established to the Washington County Hospital. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home.

Washington County News • July 8, 2021