Fulton Rye

Joseph Fulton Rye, age 82 of Cumberland City, TN died Monday, August 4, 2025 at home with his family by his side. He was born August 15, 1942 to the late Emery “Peewee” Rye and Odell Rye. In addition to his parents, Fulton is also preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Batson Rye.

Fulton attended Montgomery Central High School where he was a star on the basketball court. His athletic prowess helped him catch the eye of the love of his life, Brenda Batson. They married on June 2, 1962. After marrying, Fulton’s athleticism continued on the softball field where he played a mean third base, earning many tournament championships with teams such as Bradberrys and Bobby Wall Construction. Being a husband and father were two of his greatest joys. Fulton and Brenda had two children together, Robin Joyce Dunn (Rob) and Richard Fulton Rye (Marla). However, his gruff demeanor changed when grandchildren entered Fulton’s life and named him Gumma. He cherished Haley Rye McCaslin (Daniel), Joseph Hunter Rye (Amanda), Mason Cooper Dunn and Emery Lee Dunn. Gumma was a softie by the time great-grandchildren, Benjamin Scott McCaslin, Charlotte Rose McCaslin and namesake, Wesley Fulton Rye arrived. Fulton is also survived by his sister, Martha Nell Baggett (late Cecil Baggett) and sister-in-law, Martha Dell Wall (Billy Dee) as well as his beloved labrador retrievers, Josey and Katie.

Fulton retired from the United States Postal Service where he served as the rural letter carrier in Cunningham for many years. He was an experienced mechanic, a skill learned from many hours spent with his father at Rye and Son’s Garage on Highway 13 in Boogersville. Fulton’s greatest passions were his love for the outdoors and the Kentucky Wildcats. An avid hunter, he enjoyed spending hours in his deer stand, hunting ducks in the Dover bottoms, and traipsing fields with his bird dogs. He also spent long days fishing on Kentucky Lake. Later in life, he took up the sport that he once proclaimed was only for sissies, golf. He fell in love with the game. His crowning achievement was hitting a hole-in-one on Hole 10 at Swan Lake Golf Course.

Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home with Rev. David Mackens officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cooper Dunn, Victor Dillard, Jimmy Gaither, Daniel McCaslin, Danny Perry, Hunter Rye, and Wade Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to Fulton’s family at www.NaveFuneralHomes.com