Joseph Fuller Jr., 88, pastor

The Rev. Joseph Fuller Jr., 88, of Philadelphia, pastor of New Joy Missionary Baptist Church, died Sunday, Feb. 19, at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health after a lengthy illness.

Mr. Fuller was about 30, married with four children and busy with his work as a pipefitter  at Westinghouse Electric Corp., when he felt a call to the ministry, a daughter said. At first, he was hesitant, she said, but after speaking with his mother, he gained perspective.

"His mother told him, 'If God has his hand on you, you're going. That's what you're going to do,'" recalled Gwendolyn Green.

A resident of the West Oak Lane section of the city, Mr. Fuller was born in 1928 in Philadelphia to Mercedes and Joseph Fuller Sr. as the oldest of four children. He was educated in Philadelphia public schools, and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High. Afterward,  he  attended Pioneer Business School and then joined the Air Force, Green said.   He later attended Conwell School of Theology in Philadelphia.

While in the service, he married Popie Bouknight, who he had met at church as a youth. Their union lasted 66 years and they had four children.

"My dad was a kind, spiritual person," Green said.  "He was a very humble person and an excellent, awesome father."

In addition to working at Westinghouse in Lester, Mr. Fuller worked as a clerk-typist for the Defense Personnel Support Center in Northeast Philadelphia for a time. When Westinghouse began laying off employees in the 1980s,  he started selling  life insurance and became a full-time pastor.

Before  starting New Joy Missionary Baptist on Allegheny Avenue  in North Philadelphia 23 years ago, Mr. Fuller was pastor of Messiah Baptist Church in North Philadelphia; Star of Hope Baptist in Northeast Philadelphia; and Mount Sinai Baptist in North Philadelphia. In all, he was a pastor for 50 years.

In his spare time, Mr. Fuller enjoyed playing pool and pinochle, Green said.

In addition to his  wife and daughter, Mr.  Fuller is survived by a son, Ronald; daughters Sheila Young and Tracey; a sister; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at New Joy Missionary Baptist Church, 2314 W. Allegheny Ave., where a  funeral service will follow at 10.  Interment is at Ivy Hill Cemetery.