Judith F. Culberson, 78

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Judith Frances (DeMoulin) Culberson, 78, of Morgantown, WV, died on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, in Morgantown, WV, with her beloved husband by her side.

Private family services will be held with a public gathering taking place at a later date. Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown, WV, is assisting the family.

Mrs. Culberson was born Oct. 2, 1941, in Litchfield, the first of five children to Frank and Wilma DeMoulin. She married her cherished companion, Jim Culberson, on April 8, 1962, in Litchfield, and he survives.

After attending Litchfield schools and graduating from Litchfield High School in 1959, she worked in the Litchfield City Clerk’s office, for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, and later at LSU Medical School in New Orleans before devoting many love-filled years as a fully engaged mother. 

Mrs. Culberson moved with her family to Morgantown, WV, in 1968. Transferring credits from LSUNO, she graduated from WVU  in 1974 with a degree in history and, in 1997, completed her M.S. in special education at WVU. 

After working several years at CESD, a WVU non-profit affiliate, she fulfilled one of her many dreams, teaching and encouraging young readers at Woodburn Elementary School for eight years before retirement.

 Mrs. Culberson was a lifelong active member of Christian churches and significantly impacted her faith community of 52 years at Wesley United Methodist Church.  She joyfully served Wesley in countless ways, including youth ministry, administration, service to elderly and especially outreach mission programs, generously sharing her time, her gifts and her talents.  She enjoyed many years of meaningful service with P.E.O. Sisterhood and Ingleside Book Club, and was a founding board member and major supporter of the work of Sierra Leone Rising in Africa.

She was and is a light in the pathway of everyone whose life she touched.  She devoted herself to her most cherished roles  as wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt and friend.  She was above all else, a teacher who quietly but effectively showed everyone she touched how to love all of God’s children. 

Mrs. Culberson had a gift for helping everyone realize how very special they are, and she encouraged everyone to be the best they could be.  She worked behind the scenes, usually with her pen and beautifully decorated papers, boxes and notecards, to build up the people in her life and to record things that mattered to her heart. 

She spent her lifetime in service and sharing. She was a passionate teacher who held a life-long love for, and dedication to, education.  She worked to help those who needed support most.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Culberson is survived by her children, Lynne Culberson Phillips of Ellicott City, MD, Laura Retallick of Champaign and Sarah Kposowa Culberson of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Jonathan, Spencer and Austin Phillips, Mackenzie Frances and Bryan Retallick; brothers, Jim (Sandy of Maryville) of St. Clair, MO, and Don (Debbie) of Beech Bluff, TN; and sisters, Denise (Reggie) Davis of Springfield and Nancy Ferrari of Lanesville, IN.

Memorials may be directed to Wesley United Methodist Church Mission Fund for work in Africa at WUMC, 503 N. High St., Morgantown, WV or online at www.wesleymorgantown.org >offering>MissionsFund. Memorials may also be sent to James and Judith Culberson Dean’s Honors Scholarship at WVU Foundation. Foundation gifts can be made online at www.give.wvu.edu or by check mailed to WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507. For foundation gifts, online or by mail, please specify fund number 3Z552.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.