Everett Culp

Everett E. Culp, age 91 of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine where he had been a patient since the previous Monday.

Born April 30, 1923, at home near Rushsylvania, Ohio, he was a son of the late John Otto and Clara Lucrectia (McAdams) Culp and was a lifelong resident of Logan County. Also preceding him in death was his son-in-law, Jeff Kerns, and brothers, John and Carlos Culp and a sister, Virginia Miller.

He married Ella Jane Ramsey August 22, 1942, and she preceded him in death in 1990. They were the parents of three surviving children, Russ (Edwina) Culp of Dothan, Alabama, Ed (Judy) Culp of West Mansfield, Ohio and Linda Kerns of Bellefontaine.

Other survivors include his wife of nineteen years, Merrilyn Kline Gallentine Culp and step-daughters, Dr. Kathleen (Bjorn) Gallentine-Mossberg M.D. of Houston, Texas, Anita (Rodger) Collins of New Lebanon, Ohio and Diana (John) Johnson of Willard, Ohio; his siblings, Miriam Curler, and Carl and Bill Culp all of Rushsylvania; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; six step grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren.

Everett attended Belle Center Schools and graduated from Rushsylvania High School in the class of 1941. He entered the United States Army Air Corps December 3, 1942 and served his country during World War II as a radio operator on a B-17 with the 303rd Bombardment Group. His plane was shot down, and spent thirteen months in the Stalag 17B German prison camp until liberated in June 3, 1945.

He was a lifelong, active member of the Rushsylvania United Methodist Church and was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Rushsylvania Troop 51. He was also a member of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association Inc., The Eighth Air Force Historical Society Inc. and the Logan County Historical Aviation Organization. Everett had a lifelong love of flying and aircraft and was a member of the Top of Ohio Pilots Association.

Everett served the Rushsylvania community as Mayor and a water board member. He retired in 1988 as a pressroom superintendent at The Bellefontaine Examiner having worked there thirty seven years. He was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The funeral service will be conducted Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 11:00 A.M. at the Rushsylvania United Methodist Church in Rushsylvania, Ohio with Rev. Gene Phelps officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service at the Rushsylvania Cemetery in Rushsylvania with military honors provided by the Logan County Veteran's Honor Guard.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine and at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

The staff of the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine handled the arrangements.