May 11, 1952 – July 20, 2024
FLORENCE, SC –Ross Burrus Fulcher, Jr., of Florence, SC., known by his family as “Buddy,” passed away on July 20, 2024, in Buxton, NC, at the age of 72. He was born on May 11, 1952, in Norfolk, VA. Ross lived a life full of passion, adventure, and love.
Ross earned his Nursing Degree from Old Dominion University and his master’s degree in clinical psychiatric nursing from Hampton University. He dedicated his professional life to serving people dealing with mental illness, starting with working as a nurse (RN) in mental health hospitals and the majority of his career as an APRN (Nurse Practitioner) and counseling in his own private practice.
Ross had an adventurous spirit and never shied away from a challenge. He could figure out how to fix almost anything and did his own repairs for the home and vehicles. As a child, he built a zipline in the backyard, and as an adolescent, he learned to surf on boards he made himself. In high school, he was a Virginia High School AAU State Champion in parallel bars. After graduation, his family moved to Japan, where he rode motorcycles, snow skied Mt. Fuji, and taught gymnastics. When he returned home, he became an avid motorcyclist and toured extensively and camped all over from the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains to the Keys (where he took his bride on the motorcycle for their honeymoon).
His last adventure was riding around Moab, Utah (April 2024). His love of traveling led to getting his Casita RV and taking the love of his life on excursions every chance he got. Having a Cape Hatteras heritage, he continued to naturally be drawn to water activities. So, when he moved to the mountains in N.C., he fell in love with and spent years whitewater kayaking and canoeing. When Ross moved to Florence, he continued to kayak and introduced others to the sport but focused more on returning to surfing with his kayak. He spent years surf kayaking and trained to compete in international events as a member of the US East Coast surf kayaking team and ultimately was a 3-time World Champion (Costa Rico and Spain) at the young age of 55.
Ross was gregarious and loving, a devoted husband to Rosanne Russell Fulcher, a caring brother to his sister, Kay Cotter, and loved his niece and nephews: Ashley, Austin, Jay, and Preston. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mavis Whitford Fulcher, and his brother, Gerald “Jerry” Fulcher. He leaves behind his father, Ross Burrus Fulcher, Sr.
A memorial gathering will be held to celebrate his life at the Florence Country Club in Florence, SC, on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at 3:00 pm. Ross’s memory will be honored at a graveside service at the Quidley Cemetery in Buxton, NC, on Tuesday, August 13, at 1:00 pm and will be officiated by Pastor Russell Howard, where the family and community will gather to lay him to rest.
In Buxton, NC, at Ramp 43, a place that he loved, surrounded by people he loved, doing what he loved, he caught “one of the best waves of the day,” and when it ended, he was in heaven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Hampton University School of Nursing at oaa.hamptonu.edu or Radio Hatteras at radiohatteras.org.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
