Ray Culbertson

Funeral service for Ray Culbertson, 84, Lawrence, will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Private family burial will take place at McLouth Cemetery.
He died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
He was born July 28, 1926, in Billings, Mont., the son of William Burnett and Mildred L. Wakefield Culbertson. He was raised in Provo, Utah, and Topeka. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Kansas University in 1948.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
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-1960s, was active in the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and was a life-long Rotarian in Mission. 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 and 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.
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.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; a daughter, Susan Pitcher and husband William Pitcher, Pine, Colo.; two sons, Ron and wife Opal, Ashland, and Jerry, Lawrence; four grandchildren, Jordan Bucher, Leia Pitcher, Jyma Culbertson and Hayes Culbertson; three stepgrandchildren, Stephanie, Petey and Mitchell; four great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.
The family will greet friends following the funeral service.
The family suggests memorials to Grace Hospice, sent in care of the mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com.