Local Army private dies just months after marrying elementary school sweetheart

MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. — One of Meriwether County’s favorite sons will get a hero’s welcome Thursday night.

Army Private Ashton Fuller died last week while on duty in South Korea.

Chris Hicks says the first time his daughter told him she liked a boy, he had a feeling he knew who it was.

"Nowadays, you just don't hear about sweethearts like that. You hear of marrying a high school sweetheart, but never elementary sweetheart,” Hicks said.

Last October, Ashton Fuller and Charity Hicks became husband and wife. Two days later, Fuller had to return to his unit on the other side of the world.

"It was hard for him to leave. I know that. He didn't want to leave. Not after the time we had at that wedding. It was the greatest time of our lives,” said Fuller's father, Tim Fuller.

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One week ago, the army informed the family that Fuller had died while on duty. The family says the military is investigating the cause.

Fuller and Hicks had been married for less than five months.

"I told my baby girl, one of the things you have to focus on is really not so much the four months, but all the way back to the third grade,” Chris Hicks said.

Charity Hicks and her loved ones say they will cling to those happy memories, and to their faith.

"We believed the good Lord would keep His hand upon him and bring him back safely. But God has a plan. We have to accept that plan,” Chris Hicks said.

The plane carrying Fuller’s casket is scheduled to arrive at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport shortly after midnight.

Fuller will be laid to rest on Sunday in Meriwether County.

Cox Media Group