Tork Alan Fulton

Tork Fulton passed away surrounded by family on February 17, 2024. Tork was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Arthur and Claudia Fulton of Allegan, Michigan on May 15, 1968. He was raised in Allegan and regularly spoke of his love for his hometown, his deep family history there, his friendships, and his high school sports accomplishments. At Allegan High School he was a class president, an all-conference linebacker/defensive end, and helped carry the school to a conference championship in 1985. In addition to his work on the football field, he was an accomplished powerlifter achieving a 5th in state placement for his weight class.

After high school, Tork headed west where he began a career in the trucking industry. First to California for a short time, then Utah where he decided to settle. He started at Circle C Trucking as a lumper, dispatcher, and planner then moved to Dick Simon Trucking (which was eventually bought by Central Refrigerated Services and subsequently acquired by industry giant Swift Transportation). Tork’s responsibilities and roles expanded from Dispatcher, Customer Service, and Load Planning to eventually Executive Vice President at Central Refrigerated and Swift, where he grew revenue by $200 million. He was responsible for operations, sales, pricing, billing and team building for fleets up to 2,300 trucks. Highly respected in the industry as someone who operated with honesty and a no-nonsense approach, he built many friendships and connections that led him to leave Swift where he founded and ran Lone Peak Logistics, an over-the-road brokerage firm, for over five years. For a short time, he also became CEO of a small trucking company that was in need of a turnaround. He treated his countless colleagues with kindness and respect and will be missed as someone who had so much more to give.

Shortly after beginning his career in Utah, he also started a family. He married his former spouse Cindy Goff in 1991 and together they had two sons: Austin and Connor Fulton. Tork was a dedicated father who enjoyed watching sports with his children, telling stories of his childhood, golfing, and taking his sons on fun weekend adventures. Austin worked his first part-time job with his father at Central Refrigerated and enjoyed seeing him in his element and sharing an important part of his life with him. Their drives to and from work together were times Austin and Tork enjoyed, particularly when Tork let him drive as he was learning. Tork built a gym in his basement where he introduced Austin to weight training. Austin enjoyed Tork’s expertise, encouragement, and quality time. Tork’s work ethic was an inspiration to Austin as he attended the University of Utah and Johns Hopkins University, and started his career in Washington, DC.

Tork loved sharing one of the more important parts of his early life with Connor, sports. He coached t-ball, youth basketball, and little league baseball for which he kept a signed team baseball on his desk that remains there today. To Tork’s joy, Connor picked up football in fifth grade and played through high school. Tork never missed Connor’s football games. Of course, he always had something to say to the referees. Tork was proud of Connor’s accomplishments which included his marriage to his wife Jinger, the birth of his son Dane, in addition to his work of studying at the University of Utah to become an occupational therapist. He always ensured his children had what they needed to succeed. This included sharing many meaningful life lessons that were eagerly shared over the years.

In 2010, Tork married his current wife, Donna Fulton, and they have had wonderful memories together over the last 14 years. Tork and Donna fell in love instantly and were completely inseparable from the day they met. Together they traveled to Tork’s hometown, spent time with his family, and explored the places he loved, new and familiar. Tork and Donna loved to host family get-togethers, play with their grandchildren, and be in each other’s company as much as they could. When Tork and his children were introduced to Donna’s family they were welcomed with open arms. Tork gladly took on his role as a stepfather to Donna’s children Kolbey and Keelan Ramos with love. He planned family vacations with his children and stepchildren to adventure in Michigan. Tork broadened horizons for Kolbeys career, as he is now in the transportation industry and he inspired Keelan to attend the University of Utah and pursue business and study abroad. Donna and Tork always encouraged these two families to blend, and made a home for all of their children and grandchildren to come together and love each other in.

More than anything else, Tork loved being a grandpa. In 2016, Tork became a grandfather to Oliver, son of Kolbey and Rachelle Ramos and in 2019 his granddaughter Jacqueline was born. In 2023 his son Connor and his wife Jinger brought baby Dane Fulton into the world. Oliver, Jacqueline, and Dane always enjoyed visits to see their grandpa. Dane loved playing with his grandfather's beard and seeing him make silly faces. Oliver and Jacqueline would often sit and read books with their grandfather and laugh. Tork was most himself when spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Donna Fulton, his sons Austin and Connor Fulton, his grandson Dane Fulton, his stepchildren Kolbey Ramos and Keelan Ramos, his grandchildren Oliver and Jaqueline Ramos, his mother Claudia Stroud, his stepmother Paula Fulton, his siblings Shannon Gifford and Chad Fulton, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. There will be a visitation from 9:00 to 10:00 am, prior to the services. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.

For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the watch services link above.