Willie Caton Culpepper1

Male, #3944, (16 Sep 1925 - 13 Apr 2004)

Father*Ralph Harold Culpepper (7 Jun 1899 - 29 Jul 1970)
Mother*Gladys Iva Rice (5 Jan 1902 - 9 Dec 1960)
Willie Caton Culpepper|b. 16 Sep 1925\nd. 13 Apr 2004|p3944.htm|Ralph Harold Culpepper|b. 7 Jun 1899\nd. 29 Jul 1970|p3940.htm|Gladys Iva Rice|b. 5 Jan 1902\nd. 9 Dec 1960|p3941.htm|Warren E. Culpepper|b. 24 Jun 1859\nd. 13 May 1907|p3348.htm|Eula F. Shelfer|b. 1 Nov 1865\nd. 11 Oct 1904|p3930.htm|Franklin P. Rice|b. 3 Jul 1860|p5584.htm|Antoinette L. Gordon|b. 6 Aug 1871\nd. 15 Oct 1907|p5585.htm|

DNA* He has been proven by DNA and genealogical research to be a descendant of Joseph Culpepper of Edgecombe Co., NC, who is a grandson of Henry Culpepper of Lower Norfolk, VA. 
Name-Comm His common name was Bill. 
Birth*16 Sep 1925 Willie was born at Orangefield, Orange Co., Texas, on 16 Sep 1925.2,3 
 He was the son of Ralph Harold Culpepper and Gladys Iva Rice. 
1930 Census1 Apr 1930 Ralph, Willie and George was listed as a son in Ralph Harold Culpepper's household on the 1930 Census at Vinton, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.4 
World War II*between 1942 and 1945 Wartime Letters from Bill to his wife:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/02884m.htm
Also see typhoon description at: http://patinkc.powerfulintentions.com/library/doc/1952

NOTICE of SEPARATION FROM US NAVAL SERVICE
Notice # 737C126855
Willie Caton Culpepper, Radioman 2c V6, Serial # 576 02 87
Permanent Address: 402 W. Sabine St, Kilgore, Texas
Entry into service: 10/10/1942 Discharged: December 5,1945
Honorable Discharge, Place of Separation: Camp Wallace, Texas
Address from which employment will be sought: 708 Sue St. Houston, Texas
Home address at time of entry into service: 942 Third, Rosenberg, Texas
Service School, College Station, Tx 16 weeks
SERVICE: (Vessels and Stations Served on):
USNTS San Diego Calif
NTS(Radio) College Station, Texas
US NAB, Fiji, US NAB Nandi, Fiji;
SCTC Terminal Island, Calif
USS PCE 884
USN PSC Camp Wallace, Texas.1,5 
Marriage*24 Oct 1944 He married Katherine Karleen Rotan at Kerrville, Kerr Co., Texas, on 24 Oct 1944.1
Residence*1998 Willie resided at Centerville, Leon Co., Texas, in 1998. 
Photographed*27 Nov 1998 He and Katherine Karleen Rotan were photographed on 27 Nov 1998 at Centerville, Leon Co., Texas,
Thanksgiving 1998 -- includes all but one of their children, spouses and grandchildren. Only one is missing is 3 year old Ethan Henderson.

L-R bottom row: Shirley Culpepper Brook (daughter of Bill & Katherine), Brant Henderson (Shirley's son), Troy Bradshaw (son of Kathy Culpepper McCleney), Jesslyn Bradshaw (daughter of Amber and step-daughter of Troy Bradshaw), Ryan McCleney, Jared McCleney, Taylor Culpepper (son of Tom & Rhonda), Barbara Culpepper Kirkley (daughter of Bill & Katherine)

Next row: Gilbert Brook (Shirley's husband), Kathy Culpepper McCleney (daughter of Bill & Katherine), Brandon Bradshaw held by his mother Amber Bradshaw, Derek Morgan sitting in lap of mother Amber K. Morgan, Shira Brook (Shirley's step daughter), Korrissa Kirkley (short blonde hair, daughter of Barbara Culpepper Kirkley), Caitlin Culpepper (long blonde hair, daughter of John & Barbara), Barbara Culpepper (hands folded, John's wife)

Next row: Chad Henderson (Shirley's son with glasses and short hair), Matthew Culpepper (son of John & Barbara), Tom Culpepper (with cap, son of Bill & Katherine), Shane Morgan holding Ciarra Morgan

Very back row: Lauren Culpepper (Maroon, daughter of Tom & Rhonda), Rhonda Culpepper (dark blue, Tom's wife). John Culpepper (light blue, son of Bill & Katherine) and finally Katherine Culpepper standing with dad Bill Culpepper.1

Willie Caton Culpepper family reunion, 1998
ResidenceJan 2004 Willie resided at Madisonville, Madison Co., Texas, in Jan 2004.1 
Death*13 Apr 2004 He died at Spring, Harris Co., Texas, on 13 Apr 2004.6,2,1 
Burial*17 Apr 2004 His body was interred on 17 Apr 2004 at North Creek Cemetery, Centerville, Leon Co., Texas.6,5 
Biography From Shirley Culpepper Brooks: Actually, dad was in Spring, Harris, Texas at the time of his death.
He was living in a nursing home in Madisonville, Madison, Texas shortly before his death and the will was probated there for that reason. Dad and mom (Katherine) had moved to Madisonville a few months before we lost them. She to assisted living and dad to the nursing home there. The property in Centerville, Leon, Tx was not sold until after they were both gone. From 1946-1986 they lived in Houston, Harris, Texas. From there they moved to Centerville.

They met and married in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas while dad was on leave from the Navy. Dad was home to see his dad (Ralph Harold Culpepper, Sr) who was in the hospital for Tuberculosis, Legion Hospital, Kerr, Tx.
Mom was a waitress and he sat and drank coffee most of the day when she caught his eye. They were engaged in 24 hours, and married in 5 days. The marriage lasted 59 years, until mom's (Katherine) death.

Ralph Harold, his second wife Della, and my uncle George Warren all lived in Kerrville, Kerr at that time (1944-1945)
I know Warren went to school that year at Tivy High School, Kerrville, Kerr, Tx.
Prior to moving to Kerrville, they lived in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

Source Excerpt from letters:
Letter from Mrs. R H Culpepper to Willie, "Your dad is in the hospital at Legion, Texas" 5/26/1944.

From: R H Culpepper Box 1068, Kerrville, Tex June 1, 1944 to Willie C Culpepper, RM3/C US NAVY 120, Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Calif.
"Dear Bill, I just received a letter from mom. She will move our things to Houston and store them and come out to Kerrville, Tex which is just 3 or 4 miles from Legion, Tex, where I am. I am in Vet. Hospital and doing fine. I got here the 19th of May and they haven't found much the matter with me yet, but will be able to tell you more about my care in the next letter or two. I hope to be able to work some more, my old age through.1 " 
Biography* Obituary:
     BILL CULPEPPER, 78, of Centerville, formerly Houston. Services Sat., Apr. 17, 1:00 p.m. at Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas. Interment North Creek Cemetery, Centerville. Visitation Friday 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Family present 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. Preceded in death by wife, Katherine; daughter, Barbara Kirkley & 2 grandchildren. Retired from Schlumberger. Associated with the American Red Cross. Member of Masonic Lodge & Boy Scouts of America. Owner & operator of Culpepper Electronics & Culpepper Christmas Tree Farm. Former member of Beneke Methodist Church in Houston. Survivors: 2 sons, John & Thomas Culpepper; 2 daughters, Kathy Gunderson & Shirley Brook; 14 grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren. Walters Funeral Home, Hwy. 75 S., Centerville, TX (903) 536-2551.7 
Biography Obituary:
CENTERVILLE - Services for Willie Caton "Bill" Culpepper, 78, of Centerville and formerly of Houston are set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville. The Revs. Anthony Cecil and Dwayne Word will officiate. Burial will be in North Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to the time of services Saturday at the funeral home.
     Mr. Culpepper died Tuesday in Spring. He was born in Orangefield and attended school in Rosenberg. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He lived in Houston and worked for Best Radio Service from 1946 to 1951, Perforating Guns Corp. from 1951 to 1953 and Schlumberger Well Services from 1953 until his retirement. He owned Culpepper Electronics and Culpepper Christmas Tree Farm.
     He was a member of several organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, Cade-Rothwell Masonic Lodge No. 1151, Melrose Lodge in Houston, Centerville Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, the American Red Cross, the Westfield Road Volunteer Fire Department in Houston and Meals on Wheels.
     He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Karleen Rotan Culpepper. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas Alan and Rhonda Culpepper of Houston and John Ralph and Rhonda Culpepper of Centerville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy Sue and Rex Gunderson of Spring and Shirley Beth and Gilbert Brook of Florence; a sister, Carey Louise Manire; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.6 

Family

Katherine Karleen Rotan (30 Dec 1926 - 6 Feb 2004)
Children

Charts Descendants of Henry M. Culpepper of Dooly Co., GA
Last Edited 18 Oct 2008

Citations

  1. E-mail written 1998-2007 to Lew Griffin and Warren Culpepper from Shirley Beth Culpepper Brook (#5957), e-mail address.
  2. U.S. Social Security Administration, compiler, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Online database at Ancestry.com.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm
    W. C. Culpepper, 16 Sep 1925 - 13 Apr 2004, Centerville, Leon Co., Texas 75833, SSN 464-24-6114 issued in Texas before 1951
    (Why it is safe to publish Social Security numbers for deceased people: http://gen.culpepper.com/about/socialsecurity.htm).
  3. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    Willie Caton Culpepper, born 16 Sep 1925 in Orange Co., Texas.
  4. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 10-26, Sheet #7, Line 61, Horridge St., Vinton, Calcasieu, LA
    Home rented, Amount=$15, Radio=blank, Farm=No
    Ralph H. Culpepper, Head, M, 29, M, md@22, MS/GA/GA, Oil Field Laborer, Vet=WW
    Gladys I. Culpepper, Wife, F, 28, M, md@20, TX/TX/TX, Not employed
    Ralph H. Culpepper, Son, M, 6, TX/MS/TX
    Willie C. Culpepper, Son, M, 4, TX/MS/TX
    Warren Culpepper, Son, M, 1, TX/MS/TX.
  5. National Cemetery Administration, compiler, US Veterans Cemeteries, 1800-2006, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2006.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8750
    North Creek Cemetery, Centerville, Leon Co., TX 75833
    + Willie Caton Culpepper, US NAVY WORLD WAR II, 16 Sep 1925 - 13 Apr 2004.
  6. Bryan-College Station Eagle, Bryan, TX.
    http://www.bcseagle.com/
    Willie Caton Culpepper Obituary, 15 Apr 2004.
  7. The Houston Chronicle, Houston (Harris Co.), TX.
    http://www.chron.com/
    Willie Caton Culpepper Obituary, 15 Apr 2004.
  8. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    Barbara Jean Culpepper, Female, born __ 1946 in Harris Co., Texas, child of Willie Caton Culpepper and Katherine Karleen Rotan.
  9. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    Kathy Sue Culpepper, Female, born __ 1950 in Harris Co., Texas, child of Willie Caton Culpepper and Katherine Karleen Rotan.
  10. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    Shirley Beth Culpepper, Female, born __ 1952 in Harris Co., Texas, child of Willie Canton Culpepper and Katherine Karleen Rotan.
  11. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    John Ralph Culpepper, Male, born __ 1954 in Harris Co., Texas, child of Willie Caton Culpepper and Katherine Karleen Rotan.
  12. Texas Department of State Health Services, compiler, Texas Birth Index, 1903 - 1997, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2005.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8781&ti=0
    Thomas Alan Culpepper, Male, born __ 1956 in Harris Co., Texas, child of Willie Caton Culpepper and Katherine Karleen Rotan.