Obituaries

Bennie A Fulwiler Sr. (80) of Fremont, CA was born in Tucumcari, NM on November 12, 1943, passed away after a short battle of medical conditions on May 27, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Bennie is survived by his wife, Mary Louise of 60 years. His son Bennie A. Fulwiler Jr. of Fremont, CA, his daughter Tina L. Freitas (Ed) of Fremont CA, and son Thomas Fulwiler (Tetsu Morikawa) of San Francisco, CA, and his grandchildren Austin and Marissa. He is also survived by his siblings Susan Lavery-Burns (Gil), Bill Fulwiler (Frances), Linda Varon, Teresa Fulwiler, Andy Fulwiler (Silvia) and MaryAnn Lopez (Ken) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bennie was born to William and Emily Fulwiler, on November 12, 1943, in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Son of a Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy. He graduated high school in 1962 from Mt. Eden High school in Hayward, CA. Bennie served in the Navy aboard the U.SS. Kitty Hawk and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from Western Electric of San Leandro then went on to become a Front End Manager of Hometown Buffet in Newark, CA. Later he served as a Funeral Arranger/Director for Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward and later with Fremont Chapel of the Roses, where he retired once again.

Bennie enjoyed blues music and loved attending the Russell City/Hayward Blues festival with other family members, year after year. He loved playing the guitar and was very proud of his record collection. Bennie was a longtime parishioner of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Newark and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Fremont, always trusting in His mercy, love and providence.

He loved his family and enjoyed spending each and every moment with his adoring wife and was father of a lifetime to his family. Bennie’s genuine joy for life, sense of humor and unconditional love will be greatly missed by his family and friends.