Obituary of John Gerald Fultz

John Gerald "Jerry" Fultz, DFC & BAR Of Pentz, Lunenburg Co. was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on September 15 1922, passed away Tuesday 19 June 2012 in the Veteran’s Unit of Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg. Eldest son of Winifred (Burford) Fultz and John Joseph Fultz. He completed primary and secondary school in Halifax, going to work for the Post Office after graduation from high school at 17, as a postal messenger. It was there he met Florence Ellis, from Milton, Queens Country. In July 1942, at the age of 20, he enlisted in the RCAF. He trained at Manning Pool in Toronto, ON; in Belleville, ON; and St-Jean, Quebec, and was posted overseas and commissioned in August of 1943. He began training as a navigator. On May 6, 1944 he joined 420 Squadron and began the first of 19 missions as a flight navigator with the squadron. He moved on to Bomber Command’s elite Pathfinder force with 405 Squadron, eventually flying two complete tours of operations, and 58 sorties over enemy territory. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1945 and the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, an award he was particularly proud of, in May 1945. Only 213 men in the RCAF were awarded the first bar to the original cross, an award to officers and Warrant Officers for a further act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. In 1945 he returned to Halifax, rejoining the Canadian Postal Service in 1946. He always maintained he had to marry the girl from Milton in order to get his job back, and they were wed in July of 1946. Jerry worked his way up through the Canadian Postal Service, from Halifax to Moncton, NB, then as District Director of Newfoundland and Labrador, District Director of Southern Ontario, and finally as Director General of Operational Systems, credited with the design and implementation of the Canadian Postal Code. He retired in 1978, returning to Nova Scotia where he exercised his carpentry skills and built his retirement home in Pentz. He then worked in the Christmas tree industry for years; he was a lay reader, warden, and treasurer within the Anglican Parishes of Petite Riviere and New Dublin. In 1994 he was appointed Honourary Lieutenant Colonel, then subsequently Honourary Colonel of 405 Squadron at Greenwood, NS, and spent many happy hours with the younger airmen and women who enjoyed his tales from WWII. Jerry supported numerous charities over his lifetime. He is survived by his daughters Christine Louise (children Lisa and Jeff); Janet Elaine Fultz; and Laura Ann(Fultz) Langille (Wade). He was predeceased by his sister, Elsie (Fultz) Young; his parents; his wife, Ida Florence (Ellis) Fultz, and son Brian Alan Fultz. Visitation will be held 7:00 to 9:00 P.M., Friday 22 June in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater, with a public Legion Tribute service at 7:00 P.M. Funeral service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday 23 June in St. Peter’s Anglican Church, West LaHave, Rev. Oliver Osmond officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Pentz. Family flowers only. Memorial donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Veteran’s Unit of Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg, St. Peter’s Anglican Church, West LaHave or the charity of choice. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.