Ray Culbertson

Funeral service for Ray Culbertson, 84, Lawrence will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.  Private family burial will take place at McLouth Cemetery.  He died December 12, 2010 at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

Ray was born on July 28, 1926 in Billings, Montana the son of William Burnett and Mildred L. (Wakefield) Culbertson.  He was raised in Provo, Utah and Topeka, Kansas.  He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business from the University of Kansas in 1948.

He married Frieda Jane Wray in August of 1948 and began their marriage of 63 years.
He worked his entire professional career at Capitol Federal Savings, beginning as a teller in Topeka, then becoming the branch manager in Lawrence for 15 years, and finally serving as Senior Vice President in charge of all operations in the greater Kansas City area for 21 years.  While in Lawrence he served on the Board of Education during the mid 1960’s, was active in the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and was a life-long Rotarian in Mission, Kansas.  In Overland Park, he served in the Chamber of Commerce as President in 1972, and as a director in 1970-72 and 1983-85.  He was a member of the Johnson County Parks & Recreation Commission in 1975.  He served as a director of Southgate State Bank from 1973-75.  He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Humana Hospital of Overland Park from 1981-84, and as Moderator in 1983-84.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lawrence, and the Prairie Baptist Church in Prairie Village.  He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

After retirement in 1989, he achieved his dream of living in the home he had built in the countryside near Eudora, perfecting his woodworking skills, building his gardens, traveling, and enjoying time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Other survivors include his wife, of the home;  one daughter, Susan Pitcher and husband, William Pitcher of Pine, Colorado; two sons, Ron Culbertson and wife, Opal Culbertson of Ashland, Kansas, Jerry Culbertson, Lawrence, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jordan Bucher, Leia Pitcher, Jyma Culbertson and Hayes Culbertson, 3 step grandchildren, Stephanie, Petey and Mitchell; four great grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren.

The family will greet friends following the funeral service.  Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.