Elbert Martin Fulton, Jr.

Elbert Martin (E.M.) Fulton Jr. died at 1 AM in Summerville, SC on October 13.

E.M. was born July 30, 1933 in Dallas, Texas to Elbert Martin Fulton Sr. and Lulu May Debenport. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy for 2 years. Benefitting from the GI Bill, he attended the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, receiving a Juris Doctor’s Degree in law in 1956.

He met and married his wife of 64 years, Martha (Marty) Reece in Corpus Christi, TX. They welcomed their only child, Elizabeth Marie into the world on September 26, 1960 while E.M. was working in private practice in Lubbock Texas.

E.M. re-enlisted as an officer in the U.S. Navy in 1962, and as a young officer at the Naval Airfield in Cecil Field, Florida advised commanding officers on legal aspects of operating a jet base during the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as investigating aircraft accidents, sonic booms and tort claims.

E.M.’s career took the young couple up and down the Eastern coast of the United States. Among duties he served in Norfolk, VA as Staff Judge Advocate, Atlantic Fleet, actively managing the largest law center in the Navy, and supervising legal services to Service Forces men and commands of the Second, Sixth and Atlantic Fleets.

As an Appellate Judge for the U.S. Court of Military Review in Washington D.C. he formulated decisions in criminal cases at the highest level of the appellate process in the Navy. In Philadelphia, PA. He managed 20 lawyers and 17 support personnel as Manager, Naval Legal Service Office, and was commended for increasing production by 60%.

During his later active-duty military service, Capt. EM Fulton was stationed in London, GB serving as Staff Judge Advocate for Admiral Ronald J. Hays, the Commander in Chief of US Naval Forces in Europe (which included the European, Middle East and Mediterranean regions). While there he studied for and received an MA in International Relations from the University of Southern California.

E.M. was last stationed in Rome, Italy (rewarded this posting by his commanding officer at his request), as Director, U.S. Sending State Office, American Embassy where he was once again commended by the Navy for increasing by 100% the recoveries from Italian insurance companies.

Following his retirement from the service, E.M. and Marty settled in Lincoln, IL, with E.M. practicing for the State of Illinois in Springfield and later at a local family law firm, Harris & Harris in Lincoln, IL. They remained in their Illinois dream home for the following 35 years.

In 2016 EM and Marty embarked upon their final relocation, traveling to their favorite wintering site in the Charleston area of South Carolina, first residing in Mt. Pleasant and later moving to Summerville.

E.M. was recently predeceased by his wife, Martha Reece Fulton and leaves behind his daughter, Elizabeth Fulton of Zurich, Switzerland, and grandson, Liam Hogan.

Donations in E.M.’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society by visiting donate.cancer.org or by calling 1-800-227-2345.

Arrangements by PARKS FUNERAL HOME, 130 W. 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483. www.parksfuneralhome.com.

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