Melvin Darrol Fuller, 89, of Port Charlotte, and formerly of Fort Myers, Florida and of Middlebury, Indiana, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June19, 2024.
Mel served in the United States Army from 1957-1959 as a Field Artillery specialist at Fort Campbell, KY. After the Army, Mel’s career spanned many years within the RV industry working for Jayco and Carriage in northern Indiana. Taking after his father, Mel had a talent and skill for woodworking, metalworking, and all things mechanical, using his innate creative and innovative design and building knowledge, spending many hours happily in his workshop. His dedication to sports though was more than just a hobby…his lifelong love of the game of basketball to which he played in his younger years to becoming a certified referee, and his profound love of golf sustained him. He could be heard cheering on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Indiana University throughout the years. Being an avid golfer himself for nearly 60 years, he won many local Indiana tournaments, and eventually hit 18 hole-in-ones, with his last at the ripe ole age of 87. He always wanted to pass on his passion for golf and spent many years coaching his daughters when they were young and culminating with being an active member of the golf coaching staff at the McGregor Baptist Church High School team in Fort Myers. Mel also loved to garden, he had an ambitious quest for growing vegetables, to include rhubarb, which unfortunately he found out does not grow well in Florida. Lastly, he had an unceasing craving for ice cream. He always enjoyed a “Topsy-Turvy” at Yup’s Dairyland after a round of golf or savoring another root beer float at home.
He is survived by his high school senior sweetheart and loving wife of 68 years, Ann; his daughters, Kathy Powell of Gorham, Maine, and Cheryl (Walter) Jablow of Petaluma, California; grandsons, Evan Powell of Gorham, Maine, and Capt. Austin (Claire) Powell, USAF, presently of Dayton, Ohio; his great-granddaughter Mary Anne Powell; brother, Marvin (Donna) Fuller of Apache Junction, Arizona, and several devoted nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Edith Fuller, and brother Leonard Fuller.
Mel’s legacy will live on through the lessons he taught, the love he shared, and the memories that will be cherished forever. Per Mel’s wishes, no services are planned at this time. Melvin will be laid to rest on a future date at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw, Indiana.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.