Robert M. "Cub" Culbertson Jr 1932-2016
Born August 14, 1932, in Bloomington, Illinois, to Robert M. and Jeanette Read Culbertson, he lived his entire life in Delavan. His mother passed away when he was 12 and he fondly remembered his Aunt Helen and Uncle John Culbertson who helped him grow up. He married Joyce E. Winkler on August 15, 1953, in Peoria, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by one son, Scott L. Culbertson.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce W. Culbertson; a daughter, Carol (and Ron) Ernst of Fishers, Indiana; a daughter, Jean (and Dana) Sutton of Ona, West Virginia; a son, Hal Robert (and Rhonda) of South Bend, Indiana; five grandsons; one granddaughter; and two great-grandsons.
He and Joyce were both graduates of the Class of 1950 of Delavan High School. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University for one year and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He then completed two more years of undergraduate study at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he was named to the university Bronze Tablet for academic achievement. He then entered University of Illinois Law School, graduating in 1956. While in law school, he was a member of the law review staff, was elected to the honorary Order of the Coif and was president of his law school class.
In the fall of 1956, he was admitted to the Illinois bar and he began the practice of law with his father, Robert M. Culbertson Sr., under the name Culbertson & Culbertson. Mark E. Allen joined the firm in 1977 and the firm became Culbertson, Culbertson & Allen in 1980. Robert M. Culbertson Sr. died January 3, 1985, and Robert Jr. continued the practice of law with Mark Allen until he retired in 2010, after working 54 years as a lawyer in Delavan. He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Tazewell County Bar Association, where he served on various committees and as president for one term. His legal practice consisted mainly of probate, real estate and tax work. He avoided litigation as the people in Delavan were his friends and he didn't wish to sue them.
He was a lifelong member of the Delavan Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and elder. He was a member of the Delavan Rotary Club for over 50 years and served as president. He served many years on the board of the Adult Christian Education Foundation – Bethel Series of Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoyed sports and was a 15-year season ticket holder for the Peoria Rivermen hockey team. He also followed the Illini and the Green Bay Packers. At age 35, he began running, which he continued for 40 years, running over 160 10K (6.2 mile) races.
He would like to be remembered for two events in his life: walking in and out of the Grand Canyon at age 60 and walking the 5 mile Mackinac Bridge from upper to lower Michigan 8 times. Services have been held.