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Tryon — Joseph A. Fulcher, 87, of Tryon passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Forest City.
A native of Bridgeton, NC, Joe proudly served thirty years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a highly decorated Chief Master Sergeant in charge of hospital operations.
His military career carried Joe and his family worldwide with assignments across Europe, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. His stateside assignments ranged from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi.
Joe retired at Eglin Air Force Base near Navarre, Florida, where he and his wife, Betty, built their dream home along the Gulf of Mexico. Their children, grandchildren, and spouses continued to gather in Navarre for thirty years for holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations.
Besides his family, Joe’s greatest love was baseball. There were never more passionate Los Angeles Dodger fans than he and Betty, traveling to Atlanta every summer to watch them battle the Braves. The Green Bay Packers and North Carolina college basketball kept him excited and engaged throughout the winter.
Joe moved to Tryon to be near his daughters in 2017, following the death of his beloved wife, Betty. He is survived by two daughters, Joy Sharp and her husband, Robert Maxwell of Tryon, and Donna Akers and her partner, Ralph Maya of Matthews, NC. Joe was also a devoted and proud grandfather to Sean Joseph Sharp (Tyler Sanville) of Riverdale, MD, Cassady Sharp Craighill (Charlie Craighill) of Charlottesville, VA, and Andrew Josiah Sharp of Tryon. He was also thrilled to be a great-grandfather to Miss James Susan Craighill of Charlottesville. He was proud to be Uncle Joe to many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Betty Francis Byrd Fulcher, Joe was predeceased by a cherished son-in-law, James Andrew Sharp of Tryon.
Services for Joe Fulcher will be held in the chapel of McFarland Funeral Chapel on Friday, August 5, at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Chris Osborn officiating.
The Polk County Veterans Memorial Guard will conduct military honors.
For those wishing to honor his memory, donations in his name to either Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, Post Office Box 336, Forest City, North Carolina, or Foothills Humane Society, Post Office Box 985, Columbus, North Carolina 28722 would be greatly appreciated.
An online guest register is available at mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory

Tryon, NC