Robert William Fulton

Monsignor Fulton was a native of Mobile, born on September 21, 1936. He attended Convent of Mercy School, Cathedral School, St. Mary School, and McGill Institute in Mobile before entering Spring Hill College in 1954 majoring in Physics and participating in R.O.T.C. His junior year of college, Monsignor Fulton answered the call to priesthood and transferred to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland to pursue priestly formation. He was ordained a priest on May 31, 1962 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, for the then-Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham.

Upon ordination, Monsignor Fulton enjoyed several successful priestly assignments and teaching assignments within the diocese. He served as Assistant Pastor at Cathedral Parish, Mobile; Christ the King Parish, Daphne; St. John Parish, Warrington, Florida (then part of the Diocese of Mobile); St. James Parish, Gadsden; St. Bede the Venerable Parish and St. Peter Parish, Montgomery, where he also taught at Montgomery Catholic High School. Monsignor Fulton was then assigned as Pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish, Greenville; Christ the King Parish, Andalusia; St. Martin Parish, Troy; St. Margaret Parish, Bayou La Batre; St. Maurice Parish, Brewton; and Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, Gulf Shores. In 2002 Monsignor Fulton was elevated to the title of Monsignor as a Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Rodi recently accepted Monsignor Fulton's request to retire due to increasing health concerns and was making preparations for his retirement.

Monsignor Robert Fulton is survived by his brother, Mr. Frank Fulton of Hopewell, Virginia, one nephew, James G. (Laura) Fulton; grandnieces and grandnephews, Elizabeth (Brad) Dillard; Andrew (Justine) Fulton; Rebecca Fulton and Jonathan Fulton; and one great-grandnephew, Hayden Dillard. He is preceded in death by his parents, Adelbert Fulton and Irene Rood Fulton; and his sister-in-law, Billie Terry Fulton.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday evening, August 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with recitation of the Rosary at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, 308 East 22nd Avenue, Gulf Shores. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, with visitation from 9 am. He will be cremated and interment will take place in the family plot at Catholic Cemetery, Mobile, at a later date. Condolences may be offered at www.mmgfuneralhome.com.