Monsignor William Fulton, 83, died at the Mercy Hospital in Albury on Friday night.

Monsignor Fulton had served as a cleric for 54 years until his retirement in 2011, and spent 13 years at St Patrick’s in Albury.

He worked at parishes in Wagga, Howlong, Leeton, Tarcutta and The Rock.

Father Joel Wallace, who replaced Monsignor Fulton when he retired, remembered him as a gentle, humble and hard-working man who spent time comforting the sick.

“He would have undertaken thousands of baptisms, funerals and weddings aside from all the Sunday services,” he said.

“He put himself at the service of people over a period of more than 50 years.

“I’d like to pay tribute to him for his dedication and service

“He is fondly remembered by all those who knew him, and he is honoured in our memory.”

Monsignor Fulton moved from Holbrook to Albury when he was 12 and worked at the State Bank in Wodonga for several months before being transferred to Melbourne.

He told The Border Mail in 2011 he believed God had given him a calling to become a priest.

“I’ve no regrets about becoming a priest,” he said.

A back injury limited his duties before his retirement.

He suffered from dementia in recent years and was cared for by St Patrick’s staff in his retirement before being placed in the Lutheran Nursing Home two months ago.

“He did not have his own family, but he is survived by his brother Mark and his wife Claire, and his sister-in-law,” Father Wallace said.