Sue Fulton Dobson
Sue Fulton Dobson age 92 of Dublin, died early Monday morning, December 25, 2023 at Commonwealth Assisted Living in Fairlawn.
Gracious, warm, embracing, and constantly kind. She was Sue to some, Mrs Dobson and Ms.D to others, and Mushie, to her grandkids.
Sue was born a Fulton in Lee County, Virginia on January 13, 1931. She graduated from Thomas Walker High School in Lee County, Virginia and with a B.A. from Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia.
She grew up on a farm with her sister, Ruth Fulton Hobbs, and her father and mother, Larren Fulton and Mary Fulton. Her strength of character, strong will, and tough demeanor was developed from the daily chores necessary to live and thrive on a farm.
She left the farm at the age of sixteen to attend Emory and Henry College. During her time at Emory and Henry, she studied to be a teacher. It was there that she met and married Ken Dobson who was also studying to be a teacher and coach.
They married and moved to Dublin, Virginia and had two children, Debbie, and Cindy. As years passed, Sue’s family added the husbands of Debbie and Cindy, Kurt Tonkin and Bill Renner, five grandchildren, Stephen, Lexie, and Sarah Tonkin, and Summer and Bryn Renner, and four great grandchildren, Kurt Tonkin, and Louis Tonkin, and KJ Disher and Dusty Disher. Nothing made her happier and prouder than those grand and great grandchildren.
Sports were a major part of Sue’s life. Watching and cheering for her beloved Pulaski County Cougars, the Virginia Tech Hokies, and any of the teams her children and grandchildren played for. But her favorite sport was basketball. The sport she played during college at Emory and Henry. She could sit and watch any basketball game at any time no matter who was playing. And always made sure the referees knew the rules!
Sue worked as a teacher in the Wythe County School System for thirty-nine years. She taught sixth grade reading and enjoyed and cherished her relationship with her students, faculty, and administrators.
She was an active member of the Dublin United Methodist Church in Dublin, Virginia for over sixty years and taught Sunday School, served on numerous committees, and was a volunteer on numerous occasions.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ken Dobson, her daughter, Debbie Tonkin, her son-in-law, Kurt Tonkin, her father, Larren Fulton, her mother, Mary Fulton, her sister, Ruth Hobbs, and her brother-in-law, Sam Hobbs.
She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Renner, her son-in-law, Bill Renner, her grandchildren, Summer Disher, Adam Disher, Bryn Renner, Stephen Tonkin, Stephanie Tonkin, Lexie Tonkin, and Sarah Tonkin, and her great grandchildren, KJ Disher, Dusty Disher, Kurt Tonkin and Louis Tonkin and her special family friends, Becky Buckland, and Beth Ratcliffe.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Dublin United Methodist Church in Dublin, Virginia. Visitation will be held at 11:00 A.M. prior to the memorial service there at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be offered to Dublin United Methodist Church, 424 East Main St, Dublin, VA 24084.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski. 540-980-1700
Elinor W. Farmer
December 29, 2023 @ 2:18 pm
Dear Cindy and family
My heartfelt sympathy to you on the loss of your mother Sue.
She was such a dear friend and we will miss her sweet smile. I am sorry O could not be at her memorial service
My thoughts and prayers are with you always
Much love
Elinor Farmer