Henrietta Fullerton

Henrietta Mitchell Fullerton, of Independence, MO died October 3, 2009. A memorial service will be held October 8, at 11 a.m; private interment at Mt. Muncie Cemetery in Lansing KS will follow. Visitation will begin an hour prior to the service at the First Christian Church of Independence. Born in Independence on November 12, 1916, “Retta” graduated William Chrisman High School and the Sarachon Hooley Business School. She married Harvey Reed Fullerton, Sr. in 1938. She was a past-president of the Independence Junior Service League and was an active community volunteer, advocating programs benefiting children and women. She participated in the establishment of the Eastern Jackson County Planned Parenthood Clinic and was a founding member of the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA), and lobbying for the establishment of the state child abuse hot-line. She was active in the pre-school developmental testing program of the Eastern Jackson County Mental Health Center. She was a member of the Mary Paxton Study Club and the Colonial Dames of America.
Retta is predeceased by her parents, Madge Sea Mitchell of Independence and John S. Mitchell of Philadelphia; her husband of 44 years; her brother, John A. Mitchell; and sisters, Sarah M. Harwell and Margaret M. Lynch. She is survived by a son, Harvey Reed Fullerton, Jr.; daughter and son-in-law Sarah (Sally) A. and J.W. Schwenk III; daughter, Margaret Tacy Groves; two granddaughters and their families, Anne E. Schwenk, Katherine Schwenk-Runels and Brian A. Runels, and great-granddaughters, Linden E. and Kendal E. Runels. Also surviving are nieces Joann H. Overstreet, Linda R. Bonewitz, Peggy L. Lynch, Christina F. Jones, and nephew, William B. Fullerton III; and sister-in-law, Lorene Mitchell. The family also extends their appreciation to special friends Conrad and Sharon Fisher and Gaylene Mosbauer who contributed to Retta’s independent lifestyle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Child Abuse Prevention Association, Animal’s Best Friend or the Church.