Dale Lee Culver

Dale Lee Culver, age 45 of Belton, Texas peacefully passed away on Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at his home from esophageal cancer. Dale was born December 4, 1964 at Fort Hood, Texas the son of CWO Ret. James Lee Culver and Janet May Culver of Killeen, Texas. He graduated from Ellison High School in 1983 where he was an active member of the Eagle band and the number one seeded tennis player. Following graduation he briefly attended Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas but soon discovered his love for sales and interaction with people. He became the top salesman for Memory Graphics and in 1988 he formed his own company, Commemorative Graphics traveling as far north as Missoula, MT and Richland, WA. In 1994 he returned to central Texas to settle in Belton where he became the top salesman for Mosley Enterprises. He no longer felt challenged by his work in 2001and joined the sales force of the Killeen Daily Herald. His people skills and larger than life personality quickly forged long-term friendships and business relationships with vendors throughout the central Texas area and he soon became the number one advertising salesman for the newspaper. Dale married the love of his life, Christine Shoop on September 1, 1998. He loved boating on Belton Lake, fishing, playing tennis, pinochle and cribbage, golfing, bowling, collecting sports cards and memorabilia, collecting ties and occasional trips to casinos. Among his many accomplishments were a perfect 300 bowling game in league play in 2001 and the number one seeded amateur tennis player in his division in the state of Texas in 1999. He is survived by his wife Christine Culver, son Jesse LaBeur and fiancé Monica King of Belton, Texas and Justin Dale Culver of Bastrop, Texas, daughter Jessika Danielle Newman and fiancé Shawn Gustum of Belton, Texas, daughter Holly-Ann Christine Newman of Belton, Texas, grandson Ayden Allan Gustum of Belton, Texas and granddaughters Verity Mae LaBeur and Emily King of Belton, Texas, parents James L. and Janet M. Culver of Killeen, Texas, siblings Ruth Mae Clark of Sugar Land, Texas, Deborah Susan Hargreaves of Belton, Texas, Stephen James Culver of Killeen, Texas and Mary Lou Culver of Sugar Land, Texas, nephew James Scott Hargreaves of New Braunfels, Texas, niece Jennifer Mae Clark of Houston, Texas and nephew Christopher Andrew Clark of Sugar Land, Texas, best friend Daniel Coleman of Killeen, Texas, pets Bear, Coco and Cheyenne and numerous other friends and relatives. Typical of the way Dale lived his life, he could not bear to have a mournful funeral. Rather, an informal and colorful Celebration of Life will take place at the fellowship hall of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Killeen, Texas on Sunday, March 7 at 2:00 pm. He requested memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society. "Celebrate my life by remembering my accomplishments, my dreams, my goals that I have achieved and most of all my honesty and integrity." ---Dale Lee Culver We will miss his deep, booming voice, teasing wit and infectious laugh.