Roberta D. Culver

Roberta Dorothy Lorene Williams Culver went to sleep at her home on December 30, 2015, and awoke to be with Jesus for eternity. She was born in Bugtussle, OK, on January 25, 1921, to William and Lena Williams. Roberta moved from Bugtussle to Ottawa County, OK, at the age of two, and attended Ottawa Indian Baptist Church throughout her childhood. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class at Wyandotte High School, Roberta attended Northeastern State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and met her husband, Kenneth Culver. She and her husband both went on to earn master’s degrees in education from Oklahoma State University, where Roberta was selected for membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Roberta was a gifted educator who spent the early years of her career teaching elementary and high school students in towns across Osage County, including Herd, Bowring, Nelagoney, and Barnsdall. After moving to Oklahoma City in 1966, Roberta continued her teaching career at D.D. Kirkland Elementary School, where she was named the 1973-74 Putnam City “Teacher of the Year” and continued teaching until her retirement in 1981. Her legacy of kindness, patience, and lifelong learning endures in the lives of the many students she impacted through her teaching.

An active member of Highland Hills Baptist Church since 1966, Roberta loved to serve her Lord Jesus Christ. She exemplified the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (except when it came to chocolate). Loved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her, Roberta will be dearly missed, but her family is comforted by the knowledge that she is in Heaven rejoicing with the Lord.

Roberta is preceded in death by her parents; her six siblings; her husband, Kenneth; her grandson, Clay; and her son-in-law, Russell Gipson. She is survived by her son, Kenneth Culver, Jr., and wife Jan, of Oklahoma City; daughter, Linda Gipson, of Broken Arrow; four grandchildren, Brooke Braziel and husband Mark, Meagan Ward and husband Mace, Tyler Gipson and wife Kendall, and Kristin Culver; five great-grandchildren, Jacy, Landry, Jett, Camryn and Grayden; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition, Roberta’s family will be forever grateful to the dedicated staff of caregivers whose tireless efforts allowed her to stay in her home throughout her extended time of need.

A viewing will be held on Monday, January 4th, at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, 73162. The family will be present from 6 until 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5th, at Highland Hills Baptist Church, 7900 Devore Drive, Oklahoma City, 73162. Memorial donations may be made to the Sooner Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 3908 N. Peniel Avenue, Suite 330, Bethany, OK, 73008.