Thomas William Culpepper
Thomas W. Culpepper, known as “Cully” passed away on February 28, 2013 in Houston, Texas. He was born on August 1, 1918 in Oakhurst, Texas, the son of Bertha Mae (Shockey) and Herman Curtis Culpepper of Columbus, Texas, where he grew up and graduated from Columbus High School in 1936. He participated in sports and was #29 on the Columbus football team. He went to college for two years at Texas A&M.
Cully was a First Lieutenant and World War II Honoree in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He completed 29 missions as a bombardier on a B-24 over North Africa and Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters; Good Conduct Medal; American Theatre Ribbon with one battle star; European —African-Middle Eastern Theatre with five battle stars; WWII Victory Medal; Armed Army of Occupation, Germany; Presidential Unit Citation with two battle stars; Certificate of Recognition, Cold War, Berlin and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Cully had a professional career as a Geophysical Engineer, which took him to various domestic and international assignments in Australia, Saudi Arabia and Libya. He was well known by his peers as “Moses” Culpepper since all the major oil companies followed his crew in a caravan from downtown Tripoli to the Sahara desert, where they established the oil leases. His work still stands today as the benchmark of all the oil leases in Libya’s Sahara Desert.
Survivors include his four children, Thomas W. Culpepper, Jr. of San Antonio, TX.; Suzanne C. Baumhefner and husband Bill of Santa Cruz, CA.; Vicki C. Krieger and husband Raymond of South Korea and Blake T. Culpepper of Houston, TX; five grandchildren, Christopher Haukom of Front Royal, VA.; David Ancira and wife Amy of Austin, TX.; JaneIle Landry and husband Ryan of Austin, TX.; Kristen Sell and husband Allan of Warrensburg, Mo.; Chase Culpepper and wife Lauren of Richmond, TX; seven great-grand-children as well as nieces and nephews including Judy Thomas Konzon; Patricia Thomas Baunholz; Hunter Thomas ; Bill Baker and the late Kenneth Baker.
Other caring surviving family members include his former wife Norma Franklin, sister-in-law Joan Bunting and husband Jack Bunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bertha Mae (Shockey) and Herman Curtis Culpepper and sisters Helen Baker, Fay Buck and Lela Thomas.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 3:00 PM and Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus, Texas with Baptist Minister Victor Morrison officiating.
Burial takes place with Military Honors in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus. Pallbearers are Blake T. Culpepper, Chase T. Culpepper, David E. Ancira, Ryan Landry, Christopher Haukom and Raymond C. Krieger.
Memorials may be given to Alzheimer’s Association, Houston & Southeast TX Chapter, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX. 77030.
