Gene Culver Beck

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 7, at First Baptist Church, Stakely Sanctuary, 305 S. Perry Street, Montgomery, with Dr. Jay Wolf officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the parlor.

Gene was born in Prattville, Alabama. A graduate of Auburn High School, she earned a Bachelor of Applied Art with Honor from Auburn University where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Gene became a graphic design artist and settled with her family in Montgomery in the early 1970s. Incredibly talented, she received several awards for her advertising illustrations and logo designs. In 1972, her sketch for an Alabama state coin was chosen over 200 other entries to be included by the Franklin Mint in its series of fifty bicentennial commemorative medals. Gene was also well known in the Montgomery area for her elegant calligraphy and taught community education classes at Auburn University at Montgomery. Gene worked for 14 years at Trenholm State Technical College where she was involved in the establishment of the Montgomery Job Corps Center.

A member of First Baptist Church and a Dye-hard Auburn fan, Gene was always active in city planning and other volunteer activities. When her girls were young, she often participated in local arts and craft festivals and showcased her artistic talent at the Alabama State Fair from which she frequently brought home blue ribbons and silver plates.

Gene was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Sylvan Dekalb and Lucile Cory Culver. Gene is survived by her sister Faye (Harry) Thurston, Columbia, SC; her two daughters: Beverly (William) Rohlfing, Clackamas, OR, and Chelese Beck, Grady, AL; five grandchildren: Joseph and Jacob Rohlfing, Clackamas, OR; Brandon Johnson, Alexis (Terry) Moorer, Corianne Beck; and three great-grandchildren, all of Montgomery, AL, and several dear nieces and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the School of Industrial and Graphic Design at Auburn University or First Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama.