~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, WAL/DL Capt. William “Bill” Fulgham
December 29, 1934 ~ November 4, 2022
We have sad news to share this morning…..from family we have learned of the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain William “Bill” Raleigh Fulgham, age 87. Bill joined Western Airlines 02-27-1961 and was based LAX & SLC, then 030/PDX at the time of his retirement with Delta Air Lines. Bill is survived by his wife WA/DL F/A MarySue Lewis Fulgham, and by his children and their families.
As was Bill’s wishes, no services were held.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary : William R. Bill Fulgham passed away November 4, 2022. Bill suffered a heart attack just as he completed his daily early morning walk.
Bill was born in Overton, Texas, December 29, 1934. When he was 6 months old, the family moved to Squaw Valley, CA, in the foothills outside of Fresno. His family relocated to Avenal, CA, and he graduated from Avenal High School in 1952. Bill joined the Navy after graduation. He later attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, earning his A&P license. When Bill returned to California, he earned his private pilot license and, acquiring all the necessary training and flight hours, in 1961 he was hired as a pilot by Western Airlines.
In 1959 he married Martha Joyce Wilkins and they had 2 sons. After mandatory retirement in 1994, Bill and Joyce spent a year cruising Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands until her death in early 1996.
In 1998 Bill married MarySue Lewis and they moved to Ridgefield, WA. They continued cruising for a few years and travelled as far north as Skagway, Alaska, and as far south as Manzanillo, Mexico.
Bill loved his career as an airline pilot. He flew the DC-6, Boeing 737, 727, 757 & 767, and MD-11. He survived the Western/Delta merger but Western Airlines was always first in his heart. Bill was happy to tell you that once he was hired by Western Airlines, he never again worked a day in his life. Going to the airport to fly, see the country and spend the day with great people certainly could not be considered work.
Bill is survived by his wife, MarySue, sons Andrew and Bryan Fulgham, Scott Compton, 2 amazing daughters-in-law Teresa Fulgham and Heather Compton, and 5 well loved grandchildren Samantha, Sydney and Kevin Fulgham and Jack and Luke Compton. He will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved him.