Harden "Sy" Culberson Jr.

Harden Sidell Culberson Jr, ‘Sy’, passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, December 5th, in Cape Coral, FL. His last days were spent surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 92 years old. He will be sadly missed and will always hold a place in our hearts forever.

Sy was born on June 8th, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan to Harden Sr and Erna Culberson. He graduated from Lake Shore High in 1950. He was very active in athletics and participated in track, basketball, baseball, and football earning Varsity Letters in all four and was a county and regional champ in Track. He was awarded a scholarship to play football in college but decided he wanted to start working sooner. After high school he worked at Budd Wheel, a metal fabricator and automobile supplier in Detroit, MI and then Hudson Motor Car Company, a car manufacturer in Detroit, MI. In 1954, Sy became a police officer at the St. Clair Shores Police Department before being drafted, in 1956, to the United States Army as Military Police.

In 1956 he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington where he met Juanita ‘Nita’ Miller at church. Shortly after they met, the army sent him to Alaska. While stationed in Alaska, Sy and Nita exchanged letters and they soon become engaged in September 1956. They were united in Marriage on June 8th, 1957, in Tacoma Washington, at the very same church where they met. After their wedding, Nita moved to Anchorage, Alaska until Sy finished his service. In 1958, they moved to St. Clair Shores where Sy continued as a police officer at the St. Clair Shores Police Department. In 1961, Sy started his own starter and alternator remanufacturing business, S&F Electric, in his home garage part-time. It grew to a thriving business with its own location in St. Clair Shores, MI and employed over 29 employees. Sy and Nita also acquired the gas station next to S&F Electric in 1969, which he owned and managed. Sy retired at age 50 as a Sergeant from the St Clair Shores Police Department in 1981. They resided in St Clair Shores, MI until Sy and Nita moved to Fort Myers, FL fulltime in 1989 to enjoy their retirement. However, Sy didn’t say retired long. He wanted to stay active and busy, so he became a bus driver for Lee Country, Fl until he was 79. He was known as ‘Mr. Sy’ to the children that rode his bus.

In his free time, he enjoyed boating, hunting, and cards. Sy was a member of the Shore Boat Club in MI and him and Nita traveled with the club around the lakes in Michigan. When they moved to Fort Myers, Fl in 1989 they took their boat ‘SyRae’ from Lake St Clair, across the great lakes, down to NYC, stayed around the statue of liberty, traveled down the East Coast, wrapped it around Florida and parked it in their new backyard - the trip took them a total of 6 months. He had a robust life in Fort Myers where he quickly gained many wonderful friends. Sy also loved cruising and he and Nita went on several cruises throughout the years. Sy loved socializing, having conversations, and meeting new people – which explains his love for going out to eat. He loved spending time with family and friends, being active as a member of Riverside Church, and always made you feel welcome with his kind demeanor and big smile.

Sy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Juanita Culberson, son Kevin Culberson and wife Michele of Chesterfield, MI, son Daniel Culberson and wife Christine of Boca Raton Fl, Sister Vivian Cole of Algonac, MI, Brother James Culberson of St Clair Shores ,MI, Grandchildren Michael Culberson and wife Jennifer of Traverse City, MI, Shannon Rhome and husband Brandon of Lake Orion, MI, Crystal Aubert and husband Matthew of Clarkston, MI, Sarah Gibbs and husband Chance of Denton, TX. As well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great grandchildren.

Sy was preceded in Death by his parents, Harden and Erna Culberson, his brother-in-law Don Cole, his sister-in-law Linda Culberson, and various friends.

Services will also be held in Michigan at the Warren Woods Baptist Church in Warren, MI. Burial will be at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI. Dates to be determined.

A celebration of life gathering for Sy will be held Friday, December 8, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery, 950 Chiquita Blvd. S, Cape Coral, FL 33991, followed by a celebration of life service portion from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.