James “Jim” Troy Fuller

James Troy Fuller was called home to be with his Savior Lord Jesus on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. He was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 , in West Point, New York to Katherine Cox Fuller and Troy Elmer Fuller,  who had operated a tank in World War II under General Patton and was an instructor at West Point. As a child, he lived in Louisiana and Knoxville, TN. He had always loved the army and joined when he was 18 years old. After training at Fort Jackson, he was assigned to Fort Ord, CA. for a year where he was taught the Serbo-Croatian language spoken in Yugoslavia. Afterward, he was assigned to Fort Meade, MD, and NSA. Upon leaving the Army, he studied at the University of TN where he met his wife, Brenda Harris Fuller and they married in 1970. While there he played men’s volleyball.  He was hired by the Veteran’s Administration and moved to Atlanta, GA.  While there, he attended Georgia State University where he ran cross country and earned a master’s degree in Government Administration.  He liked to run long distances and ran 3 marathons.

He was transferred to Buffalo, New York, then Baltimore, MD, and finally Washington, DC. While in MD, he worked for the Veterans Administration where he served POWs and made his home in Annapolis Md, where he coached youth soccer and played in an adult soccer league. He became very involved in his church there, E. P. Annapolis, and variously served as deacon, elder, and teacher. He loved the living word of God and was faithful spending time reading and studying his Bible. He went on more than 40 mission trips to help and teach others including 32 trips to Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia where he was able to speak the language that he had learned in the Army many years before. During the war there, he and others from his church were able to help many who needed the basics of life and there was no government. After the war, they were able to rebuild a church that had been destroyed in Croatia.

After he retired, he and Brenda moved to Columbia SC to be near his daughter, Hilary, and her family. His grandchildren were the light of his life and he was very much involved in their daily lives. He loved nothing more than to drive around a car full of teenagers, laughing and singing to the radio with them. Funnest Popi ever! He earned his pastors license, served as a chaplain for Tri-County hospice and visited and comforted many sick people and their families.

His last, current. and favorite calling was teaching high school Latin, Russian, and history at resource centers for homeschool students. His students passed the National Latin exam at high levels every year. He loved his students, taught them, gave them wisdom, gave boys nicknames, and made them laugh. Many years involved a planking exercise contest where he was never surpassed.  Currently, he could plank for 8 minutes. He also broke the world record for men over 70 for crunching over one hour. He loved his garden and was currently growing delicious tomatoes and squash. He loved his church, Chapin Presbyterian, and served gladly and faithfully as an Elder. He taught 3rd/4 ^th grade Sunday School and could always be counted on to work at VBS and many other church activities. If the doors of the church were open, he was there to serve others and his Lord. His sense of humor was one of his best qualities, he kept his family laughing at all times.

Jim was devoted to his wife. Brenda, and supported her in all that she did.  They had a loving marriage of 51 years full of adventure, serving God, lots of laughs, dancing, singing, and sticking together through hardships.

He will be greatly missed by his family who are comforted by the assurance of a joyful reunion with all who are saved by belief in the name of Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; daughter, Hilary and son in law, Brent Hardy; his much loved grandchildren: Joseph, Emma Katherine, James, and Clara Timmons; brother Gary (Rosanne) Fuller and his family; sister-in-law, Carol (John) McCarter, niece, Sarah (Jeremy) Fowler and children, Reagan and John Fowler; brother in laws, David (Karen) Harris and Robert (Shirley) Harris and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, May 16 , at Chapin Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be at 3:00 with his service following at 4:00 . Burial will be Monday, May 17, at 10:00 at Fort Jackson.

He would want donations to Chapin Presbyterian Church Mission fund instead of flowers.