Fulton, Dr. Frenise 'Rachon'

Dr. Frenise “Rachon” Fulton, 58, formerly of Iowa City, died Oct. 6, 2013, in South Dakota, where he had resided for many years. Rachon was the son of Jean Turner, a longtime Iowa City educator. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at .

Dr. Fulton was born in Greensboro, N.C., on Jan. 1, 1955, the son of Mrs. M. Jean Turner. Affectionately known as “Scrappy,” Dr. Fulton grew up in Greensboro, N.C., where many of his family members yet reside. He attended the public schools in Greensboro, completing high school at Dudley High in 1972. Following high school, he enrolled and graduated from The North Carolina A & T University, completing a B.S. degree in 1977. Following his college graduation, “Scrappy” served our country in the U.S. Navy and he credited the military experience for the development of a compassion to love and help others. With the encouragement of his mother Jean, “Scrappy” continued his educational pursuit and earned the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1981, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Fulton began a long and very successful career in South Dakota, working primarily on Indian Reservations. He provided dental care and worked closely in his specialized area with South Dakota Public Health. His work on the Rosebud Reservation was viewed as an important and necessary service to the members of the federally recognized Tribes. He was a principal health care provider and a strong advocate for Indian people. His goal was to elevate the dental heath status of the Indian people to the highest possible level possible. In addition to the Rosebud Reservation, he worked on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the eight largest in South Dakota with the some of the poorest Indian people in our country.

On the reservations Dr. Fulton was referred to as “the doctor of teeth and gums.” While specializing in Oral Health, he focused on prevention, diagnosis and treatment; and he was well known for his compassion in seeking out patients and paying them follow up visits. Through his caring attention he impacted the lives of many indigenous people.

He enjoyed music, reading, traveling and sports.

Dr. Fulton is survived by his mother, Mrs. Jean Turner of Iowa City; uncle, Mr. Alvin Lewis; Mrs. Georgia Wright and family, Greensboro, N.C., Mr. Roy Lewis and family, Mr. Ray Lewis and family, all of North Carolina; and many other relatives in North Carolina, and a special friend, Crystal Nightpipe of Mission, S.D.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 16, 2013.