Charles B. Culbertson

COLUMBIA - On Friday June 10, 2016 Charles Boyd Culbertson took his final flight into the heavens. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016 at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community in West Columbia, SC with The Reverend Dr. Bill Bouknight officiating. Visitation will follow the service. Memorials may be made to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church Foundation, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204, the United Methodist Foundation, P.O. Box 5087, Columbia, SC 29250, or to Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community Residents Fund, P.O. Box 2959, West Columbia, SC 29171 Born July 19, 1921, he was the husband of Frances Smith Culbertson and son of the late Fred William and Louise Workman Culbertson of Laurens, SC. He attended Clemson College and graduated from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law in 1952. While attending law school, he served a two-year term in the South Carolina General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives from Laurens County. After serving in the General Assembly, he accepted a position with the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission and later became Director of the agency. Mr. Culbertson received his private pilot’s license in 1941, took advanced flying courses in 1942, and received his commercial flight instructors rating. He then served from 1942 to 1944 as a Civilian Flight Instructor for the United States. Army Air Corps. in Rock Hill, SC where he met the love of his life and future wife, Frances Blackmon Smith and then in Douglas, GA teaching civilian pilots in a PT-17 “Stearman”. During this period, he was undergoing upgrade training to become a Service Pilot. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Senior Flight Supervisor for the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In 1944 through 1946, he served on extended active duty as Service Pilot with the United States Army Air Transport Command and was sent to the China-Burma-India Theatre to fly fuel and cargo over the famous “Hump” or Himalayan Mountains at high altitudes in freezing weather from India to China. He and his crew flew C-46 aircraft from hastily constructed airfields in Burma and India. From 1946 to 1953, he was in the inactive reserve. In 1953, he joined the South Carolina Air National Guard and served as a Fighter Interceptor Pilot until 1961. He was one of the first pilots to fly at the speed of mach one while flying the F-86 “Sabre”. In 1959 he was appointed by Governor Ernest Fritz Hollings as the first Director of the South Carolina Civil Defense Agency and was instrumental in the development of nearly every city and county Emergency Preparedness program in the state. In 1961, he was recalled to active duty flying F-104 supersonic jet interceptors while based in Moron, Spain during the Berlin Crisis and served in the Air Force until 1962. In this aircraft, he was one of the first pilots to fly at the speed of mach two. Following his release from active duty, he returned to the South Carolina Air National Guard. In 1963, he transferred from the South Carolina Air National Guard to the Georgia Air National Guard based at Travis Field, in Savannah, Georgia. He joined this squadron with the rank of Captain. In 1973, he served as Commander of the 165th Air Lift Group and attained the rank of Colonel. He also served as Squadron Commander of the 157th Air Transport Squadron. Under his command, this 900 man unit was rated “outstanding” for three consecutive years. In 1974, his squadron was given the highest outstanding rating in the Air National Guard/US Air Force Reserve, earning him the United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal. In 1976, he retired from the Georgia Air National Guard with the rank of Brigadier General. During his 34 years of military service he was awarded the Air Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic – Pacific Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one Hourglass Device, the American Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the South Carolina Award for the Berlin Crisis, the Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon, the Combat Readiness Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Georgia Commendation Medal and the Georgia National Guard Service Medal. General Culbertson was a member of “The Greatest Generation” and proud of his military service to his country flying various aircraft as a Command Pilot. They include: PT-17 “Stearman”, BT’13 “Valiant”, AT-6 “The Harvard”, P-51 “Mustang”, C-45 “Expeditor”, C-46 “Commando”, C-47 “Skytrain”, F-80 “Shooting Star”, F-86 “Sabre”, F-104 “Starfighter”,C-97 “Stratofreighter”, C-124 “Old Shakey”, C-130 “Hercules”. As a civilian, he also flew the J-2 Cub, J-3 Cub, Taylor Craft, Stinson, Aeronca, Mooney, Cessna and the twin engine C-45 Beechcraft. His flight log hours ended June 30, 1976 totaling 6,010 hours. In addition to Gen. Culbertson’s military activities, his civilian occupation was Executive Vice President of a newly formed Guaranty Insurance Company of Columbia, S.C. After four years, this company was purchased by Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Culbertson served as Regional Director for Development with Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation for eighteen years until his retirement in 1986. Mr. Culbertson was also one of the six charter members of The Quiet Birdman Hanger in Columbia, SC and the last surviving charter member. He served two years as State Director of the Cancer Crusade, and was the first Chairman of the Columbia Advisory Board for First Federal Savings and Loan of Greenville, SC. He was a member of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church and Spring Valley Country Club. Surviving are his wife of 71 years; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl Culbertson and Dr. Felix Figueroa of Columbia; two grandchildren, Lauren Culpepper and Ashley Culpepper of Columbia; five great-grandchildren, Savannah Busby, Kyla Busby, Dylan Busby, Ashton Culpepper and Annabella Culpepper of Columbia; two nieces, Frances Fennell and her husband Richard of Southport, NC ; and Carolyn Culbertson Pope and her husband Bob of Waynesville, NC; two nephews, Warren “Cubby” Culbertson and his wife Susan of Columbia and Charlie Culbertson and his wife Nancy of Little Rock, Ark. He is also survived by step-granddaughter, Stacey Figueroa Heilman and her husband David of Mt. Pleasant, SC; two step-grandsons, Trey Figueroa of Raleigh, NC, and Dr. Robert Figueroa and his wife CJ of Mooresville, NC; and three step great-grandchildren, Cameron Figueroa and Harper Figueroa of Mooresville, NC, and Hudson Heilman of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Mr. Culbertson was pre-deceased in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Ruby Culbertson of Laurens, SC and sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Bruce Templeton of Columbia, SC. The family would like to personally thank his many friends, neighbors and fellow church members for their care, concern and acts of kindness. They are especially appreciative to all the residents and staff of Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community for helping make his life enjoyable over the last several years. Deep gratitude also goes to his caregivers, Charlene Young, Tanya Roland, Willidean Ferguson and special friend, India Roland-Vone. The family would like to thank Terri Woodruff, Nurse Practitioner with LTC Health Solutions, Dr. William K. Robinson and staff of Midlands Internal Medicine along with Agape Hospice for their superb professional care during his final years. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.