Edwin Thomas Hulse, Sr.
Dr. Edwin Thomas Hulse, Sr., an eternal seeker of knowledge, healer, and unwavering pillar of strength for his loved ones, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was 82.
Born on March 29, 1942, in Louisville, Ky., to Edwin Gleason Hulse and Dorothy McCarty Hulse, he spent his life in pursuit of understanding — of medicine, of people, and of the world around him. He believed learning came not just from books, but from experience, from hardship, and from the countless lives he touched.
His path in life was not an easy one, but perseverance defined him. When he graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, he received the Charles C. Verstandig Award, given to the student who overcame the greatest obstacles to obtain a medical education. That honor not only reflected the challenges he faced but was proof of the determination that shaped both his life and career.
For 37 years, Ed served as an ophthalmologist in Fort Oglethorpe, restoring sight and dignity to those in need. He never turned away a patient who couldn’t pay. His work was never about prestige; it was about people, about giving. Even when illness loomed over him, his concern was not for himself but for those he loved. His tears were not for his own suffering, but for the family he would leave behind.
To those closest to him, he was more than a doctor — he was a steady presence and a guiding force. His children — Edwin Hulse, Jr., Katherine Trotter, David Hulse and his wife, Jackie, Michael Hulse, Debra Nelson and her husband, Rick, Jeff Hulse, Spencer Hulse, and Stacy Fisher and her husband, Jamie — were his greatest pride. He gave them not just love, but guidance, humor, and the example of a life lived with integrity. Ellen Hulse and Teresa Hulse, with whom he built the family he so cherished, were part of this journey. They, along with his sister, Darlene Hulse Byrd, and his numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, all knew him as someone whose quiet strength and generosity never wavered. And then, of course, there was Tinkerbell, his most loyal companion, who never left his side.
Ed had a mind that never rested — always seeking, always curious. He could corner you with a Pablo Neruda poem and make you appreciate it, whether you planned to or not. He had a sharp eye for a game of pool, a deep appreciation for a good book, and a heart that extended to every living creature. His compassion for animals was legendary — no stray ever went unfed, and many found a permanent home by his side.
He found joy in life’s simplest pleasures: meat and potatoes over a fancy meal, a quiet moment of reflection over idle chatter, a bag of candy that mysteriously disappeared if left unattended.
His absence is immeasurable. The silence left behind is heavy, relentless. And yet, the light he brought into the world remains. It lingers in the kindness he showed, in the knowledge he shared, in the love he gave freely and without hesitation.
His family will honor him privately, in the way he lived — without fanfare, but with deep love.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Ed’s legacy as he would have wanted: by showing kindness to someone in need, by feeding a stray animal, by seeking out knowledge for its own sake, and most of all, by loving without reserve. If you wish to do something more, consider donating to charity in his name.
Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn.