Robert C. Fulton III

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth, his daughter Fendall Fulton (Jacqui), and his grandson Markos Howard.

Bob was born on April 28th, 1939, in New York City, to parents Robert C. Fulton Jr. and Mary T. Fulton. Raised in New York City, Bob attended City and Country School and Collegiate School before boarding at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. After earning his B.A. at Amherst College, where he played varsity lacrosse, Bob and his wife Betty moved to Berkeley, California, where Bob earned his Ph.D. in English and American literature at the University of California.

Bob and Betty then moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1970, where Bob began his teaching career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Bob taught at the University from 1970 to 2005. In addition to being a Fellow of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., he earned two Teaching Excellence awards. Bob also directed the University Honors Program from 1982 to 1997. In 1998, Bob was a Visiting Professor in the English and American Studies Program at Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Following his retirement from UTC in 2005, Bob became a full-time faculty member in the English Department and crew coach at Baylor School in Chattanooga, retiring in 2015.

Despite the demands of his profession, Bob had an active life outside of school. He did not, in the words of the poet Mary Oliver, “end up simply having visited this world.” Bob, a Lookout Rowing Club member, enjoyed many years of rowing with club members, especially David Brodsky. In addition, Bob also worked at staying fit by running and cycling. He and Betty travelled extensively in Europe, England, Mexico, and Central America. Together they raised their daughter, Fendall, helped rear their grandson, Markos, provided homes for numerous dogs and cats, gardened, and brought to life two old houses. Their first, a log house on Signal Mountain (1971-2003), and their second, an 1869 brick house in Chattanooga (2003-2015), showcased Betty’s innate sense of place and function. Bob also relished sharing with Betty their love of books, poetry, and movies.

“Gladly would he learn and gladly teach.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the River Room at the Bluff View Arts District in Chattanooga. Instead of flowers, please consider donating to McKamey Animal Shelter.