Claudia “Tootie” Fulmer Huffman, a 60-year resident of Vacaville, a philanthropist, and a founding member of the Friends of the Dixon May Fair and its notable college agricultural scholarship program, passed peacefully Sunday, March 29, surrounded by loved ones at her Vacaville home. She was 84.
Tootie was born in San Francisco on July 1, 1941 to William Edward Fulmer and Claudia “Nelda” Chaney Fulmer. Her father, a World War II Air Force pilot based in San Antonio, was shot down while flying a P-38 over the Canary Islands in 1943. He posthumously received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following his death, Tootie resided in San Antonio with her brother, Kenny, and mother until her mother remarried in 1946.
Tootie’s stepfather, Elmer “Ralph” Bergmann, whom she fondly called “Daddy,” served in the Air Force during the Korean War, transitioning from Tinker Air Force Base, Hamilton Air Force Base and Elmendorf Air Force Base to Travis Air Force Base. Bergmann “flew missions over Korea and dropped leaflets over North,” Tootie recalled in her memoirs. In 1951, “before he had to leave on a military assignment, Daddy had Kenny and I go to the separate garage where our bikes were at and completely take them apart, then re-assemble them, including repair of the tubes in the tires, in case of a flat tire. He did not want us to bother mom about repairs.”
A 1959 graduate of Armijo High School, Tootie worked part-time at the Solano County Title Co., while attending high school, and then full-time following her graduation. “I bought my own car in the fall of ’59, a 1956 Bel Air, two-door sedan, mint green and white,” she related.
Tootie recalled childhood memories on the family farm in Boerne, Texas. “We had to watch out for egg snakes while picking eggs. There were two cows. One was a jersey and other was mean one called Babe, red and white color. That one would kick sometimes. I never liked the milk, but mom would use the separator and then make butter and cottage cheese with the cream. There was a pear tree in the back yard and a huge Oak tree that we could climb and gave shade to the
house. Mom made pear pies with those pears.”
While living near Hamilton Air Force Base, Novato, she joined a Girl Scout troop, earning her first-class badge and 14 merit badges. Later she would play on the basketball and volleyball teams at Pacheco School, Ignacio. Her high school memories in Anchorage include being voted a junior prom princess, singing in a choir, and performing in the “Oklahoma” production.
Tootie married her high school sweetheart, Donnie Huffman, on April 16, 1960. A businessman, civic leader and the longtime owner of Don’s Auto Parts, Vacaville, he and Tootie and friends launched the Friends of the Dixon May Fair in 2000, with Donnie serving as the founding president until his death in 2023 and she as founding treasurer for nearly two decades. In 2000, The Friends began sponsoring a college agricultural scholarship program, now renamed “The Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program.” Funded by the sale of beverages at the Dixon May Fair, the scholarships are awarded annually to Solano County high school graduates majoring in an agricultural field at any U.S. college. To date, the Friends have awarded a total of $340,250 in scholarships.
Tootie’s professional career included working for First Western Bank, Fairfield, and Vaca Valley Bank, Vacaville. She enjoyed traveling to Texas for family reunions, visiting national parks, crabbing, playing cards (all night on New Year’s Eve), and attending NASCAR races and Western Fairs Association conventions. She remembered every car she ever owned, and was particularly fond of her “1957 Thunderbird, color coral sand.” She owned it for almost 40 years and had her fingernails painted to match ever since, her family said.
Tootie is survived by her daughter, Shelli Huffman Vasquez (John) of Vacaville; son Don Huffman (Jennifer) of Napa; seven grandchildren, John Vasquez (Pamela), Mary Vasquez (Rene Pimentel), Jacqueline “Kristy” Vasquez (Sean Fuller), Sarah Vasquez Lincoln (Kevin), Annabelle Rosenthal (Sam), Allie Huffman and Ava Huffman; and eight great-grandchildren, Ciana Vasquez Smith (Marcus), Alejandro Vasquez Pimentel, Hunter Lincoln, Dionicio Vasquez Pimentel, Kensley Lincoln, Amelia Vasquez Fuller, Penelope Vasquez and Paisley Jo Lincoln. A first great-great-grandson (Baby Smith) is on the way.
Tootie leaves behind many other family members, including sister Donna Moreau; brother Richard Bergmann (Glynda); sisters-in-law Diane Bergmann, Sharon Hulse and Sherry Huffman; nieces and nephews Karen Bergmann Purcell, Erin Stack, Sean Stack, Katy Bergmann, Erika Bergmann. and David Palagi (Renee); and great nieces and nephews, Amanda Purcell, Megan Palagi (Chris), Chad Palagi (Katie) and Amy Palagi. Tootie also was a mother figure and mentor to many, including David Bunge and Eric Baker.
Tootie was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Donnie Huffman; parents William Edward Fulmer and Claudia Nelda Chaney; adoptive father "Daddy" Elmer Ralph Bergmann; mother-in-law Minnie Swope; brother Kenneth Bergmann, sister-in-law Gertie Palagi, brothers-in-law Douglas Moreau, Bobby Huffman, Ben Hulse; and nephews Darien Bergmann and Frankie Palagi.
In lieu of flowers, Tootie asked that any memorial contributions in her honor to be made to Friends of the Dixon May Fair, P.O. Box 6208, Vacaville, Calif. 95696. She requested no services but that “you raise a Dr. Pepper or enjoy a soft serve vanilla ice cream at the Dixon May Fair.”
