Elaine H. Fulton; 54-Year County Resident

Elaine H. Fulton of Oak View, a 54-year Ventura County resident, died Monday in an Ojai hospital after a long illness. She was 76.

She was born Nov. 7, 1919, in Park Falls, Wis. She spent her childhood and the early part of her adult life in Wisconsin, coming to Ventura County with her first husband in 1942.

The couple later divorced and, in 1952, she met and married Robert Fulton of Oak View.

“I used to roller skate, and I met her through skating,” said Fulton, 74. The skating rink was in Ventura, at the south end of California Street--now the site of a Holiday Inn.

She was not a skater, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing Robert. “She called me at the skating rink, and [later that year] I married her,” he said.

She was a homemaker who, when Fulton had time from his job at Shell Oil, enjoyed going on gambling trips to Las Vegas. “She got me to go to Vegas two or three times a year.” he said. “She liked the slot machines, and I did too. We liked the nickel machines.”

Robert lost a foot in an on-the-job accident and was forced to retire in 1970. His wife was by his side during his recovery, and remained devoted until her death.

Besides her husband, Fulton is survived by sisters Kathleen W. Edwards and Carole W. Borden, both of Oxnard; three nephews and two nieces.

A graveside service will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, with Pastor Kurt Christenson officiating.

Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.