Born December 12, 1923 to John and Alma Floyd McCullough, he grew up in the First Methodist Church where he accepted Christ at an early age. He graduated from Pontotoc High School in 1942 and on December 15 of that year he joined the United States Marines. After completing his training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, he served 20 months in the South Pacific with Headquarter Sqd.,1st Marine Air Wing, working in communications. He was discharged in October 1945, in Cherry Point, N.C.
After returning home, he began his career with the U.S. Postal Service by serving as a substitute on his father's rural route. Later he received a permanent appointment as a Rural Letter Carrier on Route 2. After retiring from the postal service, Floyd served as the Pontotoc County Veterans' Service Officer.
On July 12, 1949, he married Ruth Pitts, a marriage which lasted for 66 years until his death. He joined the First Baptist Church where he became an active and faithful member throughout his life, serving as a deacon for almost sixty years. On July 20, 2014, the church bestowed upon him the title of Deacon Emeritus.
As a young man, Floyd taught Sunday School and was a leader of boys in Training Union and Royal Ambassadors. Later he served as church clerk for 35 years and drove the church van on Sundays for more than 20 years. He and Ruth were chaperones for youth trips to Pensacola and Ridgecrest and a youth mission trip to New Orleans. Floyd also went on mission trips to Honduras and Boston. Floyd served on many committees through the years and was known for his faithfulness in visitation.
In the early 1950's, Floyd was instrumental in forming the Jaycees and served as the first president. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the National Rural Letter Carrier Association. He was a charter member of the Pontotoc County Historical Society and served on the Community House Renovation Committee and Maintenance Committee for ten years.
One of Floyd's greatest pleasures was traveling. As his children were growing up, the family traveled and camped extensively throughout the U.S., especially enjoying the National Parks and places of historical interest, eventually visiting all 50 states. While their son was teaching overseas, Floyd and Ruth traveled with him in Japan, China and Hong Kong and later to a number of countries in Europe, while David was teaching in Germany.
In addition to traveling, Floyd enjoyed sports, beginning with sandlot baseball and football growing up; playing football for PHS in high school; attending college games, especially Ole Miss, and watching sports on T.V. in later years. He took his family to New Orleans to see Ole miss play in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day, 1970. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren compete in tennis and basketball.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; one son, David McCullough of Oxford; two daughters, Anna Downing and her husband, Craig of Pontotoc and Rosalie Willett and her husband, Rick of Atlanta; three grandchildren, Stephen Downing of Oxford, John Downing and his wife Abby of Baton Rouge, LA and Katherine Downing of Pontotoc;
four nephews, Douglas McCullough of Clinton; Alan McCullough of Pensacola FL; John Pitts of Taos, NM; and Joe Pitts of Germantown, TN; and one niece, Joyce Ivy of Blaine, TN.
Floyd was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, J.B. and his wife, Mary Ruth.
Services will be today, December 24, 2015 at 11:00am at First Baptist Church in Pontotoc with Dr. Ken Hester officiating. Burial will be in the Pontotoc City Cemetery. Visitation will continue today in the sanctuary of the church from 10:00am until service time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Elevator Fund of First Baptist Church or to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for Foreign missions or to a charity of the donor's choice.
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