Dr. Charles E. Fuller

Dr. Charles E. Fuller, 94 of Park Rapids, Minnesota passed away June 25, 2025 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living – Park Rapids. Minnesota.

He was born December 9, 1930 to Clifford A and Esther (Peysenske) Fuller. He was married on August 16, 1952 to Judith Merritt in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

He attended schools in Park Rapids, graduating with the class of 1948. He received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas and his Masters of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Fuller was a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Medicine and received an Honorary Diploma awarded annually by the American Epidemiology Society to the individual making the greatest contribution to epidemiology in the United States. He was Guest Lecturer in Public Health at Ohio State University, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Environmental Health, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Texas and Guest Lecturer, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.

Dr Fuller practiced veterinary medicine in Hawley, Minnesota with Valley Veterinary Clinic, Fargo, North Dakota before being called to serve in the Air Force in 1956. He made the Air Force his career, retiring from the USAF Medical Service, March 1, 1977. At that time he was Command Veterinarian, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) at Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio. Colonel Fuller developed and implemented concept and program for the acquisition of all epidemiological aspects of communicable disease control functions at all AFLC bases by Veterinary Medical Officers. He was senior veterinary medical consultant and coordinator for HQ AFLC on Air Force activities as they relate to the epidemiological aspects of communicable disease control.

Other Air Force Assignments were Deputy Manager, Health Applications Office, Health Services Division, Life Sciences Directorate, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas. He was responsible for establishing scientific validity of a new and expanded program of research which utilized remote sensing from aircraft for public health applications. It was here that he received promotion to the grade of Colonel in the Secondary Zone, a year sooner than his contemporaries. Prior to this he was Chief, Public Health Ecology, Preventive Medicine Division, Medical Research and Operations Directorate, Manned Spacecraft Center, NASA, Houston, Texas. He was responsible for the development of a program to advance the state of the art in the prediction and assessment of the emergence and recession of disease, the degradation of air and water and the assessment of factors of public health importance in natural disasters.

Colonel Fuller served as Deputy Chief, Biological and Medical Science Division, Directorate of Life Sciences, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSRF), Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity he was responsible for support of Air Force interest in new and creative unsolicited basic research proposals in the biological and medical sciences from universities around the world. Before joining AFOSR he served as Range Veterinarian, Deputy for Bioastronautics, Air Force Eastern Test Range, Cape Kennedy, Florida in support of NASA. He also served as Command Veterinarian, Caribbean Air Command with activities at Albrook and Howard AFB in the Panama Canal Zone and 15 Latin American republics, and was Division Veterinarian, 801st Air Division, SAC, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.

After his retirement in 1977; he established Town and Country Animal Clinic in Park Rapids, South Ridge Animal Clinic in Walker, Minnesota and South Ridge Farm Animal Clinic in Park Rapids. His professional affiliations were with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Councilor on the American Board of Veterinary Public Health, Conference of Public Health Veterinarians, and the Wildlife Disease Association. He was also a member of American Legion Post 212, Park Rapids.

His military decorations were the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Service Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.

He is survived by three daughters, Jane (Don) Dozier of Waxahachie, Texas, Susan (Kirk) Fuller-Roetman of Versailles, Kentucky, Julie Katrece Fuller of Menahga, Minnesota and one son, Tom (Julie) Fuller of Littleton, Colorado. He has his six grandchildren, Dr. Elizabeth (Bill) Little of Trophy Club, Texas, Matt (Dr. Luiza Guimaraes Tunes) Dozier of Arlington, Texas, Erin, Ben and Josh Fuller of Littleton, Colorado, Ethan Roetman of Versailles, Kentucky. He has five great grandsons, William Reid Little, Luke Merritt Little, John Owen Little and Henry Charles Dozier, Theron Woodson Dozier. He has two great granddaughters; Alice Tunes Dozier and Iris Tunes Dozier. Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Fuller, parents and one brother, Frank Fuller.