Waylon Ornin Fulk, Major USAF (Retired), of Fayetteville, NC passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, under hospice care in his apartment at Harmony Senior Living. Waylon was born May 27, 1936, in Raeford, NC to the late Glenn Fulk and Viola (Sparks) Fulk. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on January 13, 1954. In 1958, while stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, he married his childhood sweetheart, Jimmie Eloise Walters, of Raeford, NC.

Waylon was trained as a linguist (Hungarian and Russian) before receiving his commission through the Officer Candidate School at Lackland AFB, Texas in 1962. Lt. Fulk then went through pilot training and was awarded his pilot wings in 1963. From 1963 to 1966, Waylon served with the 344th Bomb Squadron at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska. He then flew C-130's with the 777th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Pope AFB, NC, from 1966 to 1971. During his time at Pope, Capt. Fulk flew missions in support of the intervention in the Dominican Republic from February to May 1966, and in Southeast Asia from June to August 1968. He then trained as a gunship pilot and began flying AC-130 Spectre gunships with the 16th Special Operations Squadron based at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in 1971. A command pilot, Maj. Fulk flew 104 combat missions in Vietnam between October 1971 and September 1972; including a mission for which he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his gallantry under fire. After Vietnam, he again flew C-130 transports at Pope AFB, NC, this time with the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, from 1972 until his retirement from the Air Force in 1975. After 21 years of active duty, Waylon enjoyed selling cars for several years, and then opened and ran his Leather Shop for almost a decade. He finished his working years by adding another 10 years to service to his country by working as a mail carrier.

Waylon loved to travel, visit friends and family, and spend time gardening. In addition, he was very active in the Methodist church wherever he lived and spent many years teaching Adult Sunday School and singing in the choir, including a traveling men’s group, the Kingsmen, of Campground United Methodist Church of Fayetteville, NC. 

Preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Waylon is survived by his son Darryl; daughter Doreen Wagner (Brent); granddaughter Karla Wagner (Aaron Brooks); siblings Connie Ellis-Hendrix, Venetia Day (Gene), and Roland Fulk; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

A memorial service will be held at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 to 2:30 P.M. Burial will follow at Camp Ground United Methodist Church Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301