Alma R. Keen Fulmer, 99

December 14, 2013

Alma R. Keen Fulmer passed away on Saturday December 14, 2013 at Luther Acres in Lititz PA. She had recently celebrated an amazing 99 years of life spent as a resident of Lancaster County. Born on December 8, 1914 to the late Charles and Mary A. Kempf Keen, Alma was the 12th of their large family of 13 children. She lived in the bustling family home at 523 E. Marion Street in Lancaster from her birth until April 27, 1940 when she married Richard A. Fulmer and moved five blocks away to 915 E. Orange Street where she lived for 60+ years surrounded by a circle of close knit neighbors with whom she had life-long relationships. Alma was justifiably proud of and well known to friends and family for her incredible array of Christmas cookies which she baked every year and shared with many. She also enjoyed bowling duck pins and playing in a pinochle group, both of which she participated in for decades. She had been an active member of St. Anthony’s Church Senior Citizens Club. Until a few years ago, Alma was able to travel with her family each summer, visiting many states and experiencing the beauty of America from coast to coast. She was also proud to have visited her mother’s ancestral home in Germany.

After the death of her husband on March 27, 1968, Alma joined the work force in different capacities, but her favorite job involved her years of working at Owl Hill Learning Center on N. Queen Street caring for the babies whom she loved. She worked in that capacity until well into her 80s when she retired. Alma also loved working in her garden and had an impressive number of hydrangea and azalea bushes which bloomed profusely each spring and summer. Alma cherished her collection of angel figures, which she displayed throughout her home. For many years, she was one of the top sellers of tickets to the annual Sertoma Chicken BBQ as part of “Team Snyder”. She thoroughly enjoyed singing, especially the old songs which she had learned during her earlier years as a member of the large Keen family.

Alma is survived by three children, Regina M. Whitcomb of Westminster CA, John R. Fulmer (Kathryn) of Columbia PA and Thomas L. Fulmer (Elaine) of Lititz PA, as well as seven grandchildren, Mary Beth Whitcomb of Davis CA, Amelia Frawley of Orlando FL, Jacqueline Heck (Terry) of Lititz PA, Michael Whitcomb of Long Beach CA, Kelli Whitcomb (Adam) of Huntington Beach CA, John R. Fulmer, Jr. (Callie) of Lovettsville VA and Ryan Fulmer (Shirley) of Brooklyn NY. Also surviving are great grandchildren Christopher Whitcomb, Allison, Corey, Kyle, Caleb and Anna Heck, Evan and Jefferson Fulmer and Hannah Fulmer, along with numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Alma was predeceased by her son-in-law William Whitcomb, Sr. and her grandson William Whitcomb, Jr., as well as her brothers and sisters, John Keen, Charles Keen, Richard Keen, William Keen, Mary Yecker, Margaret Musser, Catherine Keen and Agnes Musser, and three sisters and a brother who died in early childhood. She is also survived by four step-grandchildren, Charles, Kathryn and Donald Bernhardt and Karen Bernhardt Fillmore.

Friends are invited to join Alma’s family in celebrating her life at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home at 414 E. King Street in Lancaster, PA on Friday December 20, 2013 from 7:00 – 9:00PM. Friends are also invited to traditional Roman Catholic burial services, beginning with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home at 10:15AM on Saturday, December 21, 2013, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church at 501 E. Orange St. at 11:00AM, and interment at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, all located in Lancaster, PA. Donations can be made in Alma’s name to the Luthercare Benevolent Fund, 600 E. Main Street, Lititz, PA 17543.

During her lifetime, Alma would often remark that, as the twelfth child in such a large family, she was surprised that there were any good genes left when she came along. As evidenced by her 99 years, the best longevity gene was apparently saved just for her.