William Keith Fullmer

    William Keith “Bill” Fullmer, 92, passed away on Monday September 30, 2024, at his home in Vista, CA He was born in West Hollywood CA on June 8, 1932, to Leland and Elizabeth Fullmer. He was the middle of three boys raised in Inglewood Ca. His parents divorced when he was just 3 years old, and his father passed away when he was 12 years old
Bill was always known as a hard worker which started with his first job selling newspapers during World War 2 at the age of 9. Bill graduated from Inglewood high School in 1950 and went to work at McCulloch Motors on the Legendary “Burr Bench” where he was required to work 12-hour days 6 days a week and sometimes even 7 days. In February of 1951 he enlisted in the US Navy. He was stationed in Corpus Christy, Texas for 2 years then transferred to the Brooklyn Navy yard where he worked on the CNA 12, USS Hornet, Aircraft Carrier for its initial around the world tour.           The world tour took over 11 months to complete it started in New York sailing around the world and finished in San Diego Ca. After completing his enlistment in 1955 he moved back home to Inglewood Ca where he started working as a telephone installation technician for the telephone company. In 1957 he was hired by the Inglewood Fire Department and in 1957 he would start his first of many side hustles, a sprinkler installation business. His lifelong passion for off road Motorcycle riding and racing also began in 1957 with the purchase of his first motorcycle a Triumph “cub” He would continue to ride and race motorcycles for the rest of his life only stopping because he physically couldn’t do it anymore at 89 years old. Bill travelled all over the US riding motorcycles and made hundreds of good friends along the way. In 1958 he met and married Catherine together they had three children John, Billy and Mary.
In 1960 he went to work for what Bill would always say was the finest Fire department in the world. The Los Angeles County Fire Department he was extremely proud to be part of LA County FD. In 1966 he promoted to Engineer and in 1969 he was promoted to Captain, retiring from LA County in 1988. Because of his strong work ethic during his time off he continued installing sprinkler systems, then went to school to get his real estate license and eventually a General Contractors license. In 1971 he moved to Leona Valley, CA where he built the first of five different custom homes.  He retired in 1988 moved to Vista, CA where he built is final custom home. Now that he was not working two or three jobs, he spent his time travelling and riding his motorcycles. Because one activity was never enough in 1990, he began building and flying model airplanes he would eventually get good enough to compete and even placed 2nd in a national competition. In the mid 1990’s because riding his motorcycle on the weekends and flying model airplanes during the week wasn’t enough, he started racing pigeons and like everything else he did he got really good at it too. 
    Although he came from very modest means, he worked hard & built a life of financial security for his family.  He kept himself busy with many hobbies and work, but he always cared for and took good care of the ones he loved.  
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Keith Fullmer, please visit our floral store.