Harold Lee Fuller

Harold Lee Fuller, 78, retired telecommunications engineer and rancher in Franklin County, KS, passed away peacefully Monday, January 22, 2018 with his family at his side. A rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, January 25, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa with a visitation to follow at 7:00 P.M. The mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, January 26, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa. Interment will be held at 3:00 P.M., Friday at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64138. Harold was born in Kansas City, MO on June 4, 1939 to Ed and Sylvia (Brumley) Fuller. He graduated from Northeast High School where he was active in the Benton’s literary society and the ROTC program, achieving a rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and Cadet Battalion Commander. Harold attended the University of Missouri, School of Agriculture and earned his BA in Economics from UMKC. In 1961, he married Eula Lee Metzger of Kansas City, KS. He enjoyed reading, sailing, hunting, and fishing, but most of all family camping trips and vacations. As he traveled for business he would take family members with him whenever permitted. He was a member of St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO for over 20 years serving in the Legion of Mary and as a lay minister. Harold served in many roles supporting Catholic education at St. Bernadette’s and O’Hara High School. During 40 years in the communications industry, he held multiple positions on teams that pioneered fiber optics and mobile phone technology. He began at AT&T and retired as director of engineering at Telecom/Sprint. He served on a task force for national communications recovery with the federal government. As a retiree, he was a consultant for Sprint, traveling to Poland and Sweden. In 1989, Harold returned to his interest in agriculture and the family purchased a farm in Franklin County, KS. For many years Harold raised Angus cattle on their Seven F Ranch and was a member of Farm Bureau. He held a Kansas realtors license for a short time. He was an avid Civil War enthusiast. He enjoyed carpentry, home remodeling, drafting, and design, completing many of his own large projects and assisting his children often. He was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa, KS where he enjoyed leading the rosary. He was proud to be a Fourth-Degree knight in the Knights of Columbus. He supported Kansans for Life and was a devoted viewer and supporter of EWTN. Harold volunteered for over 20 years delivering for Meals on Wheels and served as the Board Chairman for the Mid-American Nutrition Program. He served Franklin County as the first ever Governor appointed County Commissioner setting a precedent for a 5-member council, was a member of the Planning Commission, Juvenile Detention advisory board, served the Solid Waste Authority as part of a 6-county board, and helped originate the County Highway Improvement Program. He was a member of the Republican Party. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Henry; sister, Barbara; son, Thad; and son-in-law, Allan Coon. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eula Lee, Ottawa, KS; brother, Ken Fuller, Kansas City, MO; mother-in-law, Carleen Bach, Topeka, KS; daughters, Deborah Fuller Coon, Shawnee, KS and Christine Fuller, Overbrook, KS; sons, Stephen Fuller, Raytown, MO and Sean Fuller (Amanda), Lenexa, KS; grandsons, Christopher Wesley, Joshua Fontius, Jacob Fontius; granddaughter, Kendall Grace Fuller; great-grandson, James Black; great-granddaughters, Kaylee Black and Sophi Black; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved brown Labrador Retriever, Bear. The family expresses gratitude for exceptional care provided by Midland Care Hospice. The family suggests memorial contributions to Mid-America Nutrition Program or Sacred Heart Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Harold’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com