Charles "Les" L. Culbert

Charles L. “Les” Culbert was born June 18, 1924, at the old St. John Hospital in Oxnard, CA and passed away in the early hours of January 22, 2014, with his family by his side. His parents, Bert and Pearl Culbert, had bought property and started a family in the Las Posas Valley, Somis, in 1903.

He graduated from Center School in 1937, Oxnard High in 1941 where he participated in many sports, and then attended Ventura Junior College and Cal Berkeley. “Les”, as he was known, joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, and was commissioned as a Photo Recon pilot in September 1944. He flight tested new concept cameras in 1944 and early 1945, flying P-38s (F-5s) out of Hickam Field, Hawaii. Les ended WWII in Wiesbaden, Germany as a member of the 155th Night Photo Econ Squad flying A-20s. He returned home in 1946 and was in the Air Force Reserve until 1952. Les held a multi-engine commercial pilots license for over sixty years.

In 1946, he and his father Bert, formed a farming partnership and farmed together until Bert’s death thirty years later.

Les met his true love and best friend, Barbara Ann Campbell in 1944 while home on leave from the Air Corps. When he returned from Germany in 1946, they became engaged and were married in Ventura in May 1947. Last May they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary with their three children, Sharlee Carnes, Meredith Horton, and Michael Culbert along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Les was a long time member of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, a former director of the Santa Paula Citrus Trust Association and the L&O Farm Labor Association, sixteen year member of the Mesa School board, life member of the P-38 National Association, and life member of the Ninth Air Force Association.

He was preceded in death by his mother Pearl, his father Bert, his brother Lynn and his sister Barbara Kildee.

Les was a man of many talents and enjoyed a loving close knit family. They share his enjoyment of life and will surely miss him.

The family will hold a private celebration of his life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Coastline Bible Church, 426 South Mills Road, Ventura, CA, 93003.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.