and probably many other unrepeatable names as well. Rest in peace Dad, Poppy, Poop, Vern, John C. John passed away quietly and peacefully at his home on Friday in the early afternoon surrounded by his loved ones. He enjoyed his final days with the people he loved most and got to sit on his deck and enjoy the beauty of the life he helped create around him. John had many visitors over the last few months and although he became quite weak he did not suffer much pain. He spent his remaining days with his beloved wife Shirley at their home in Lookingglass. He was unable to have any treatment other than palliative care. John was diagnosed in March with invasive adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. His love of Volkswagens has passed on to several of his grandchildren. He finally settled his sights on vintage Volkswagens: all three of the Culberhouse girls drove either vintage bugs or Karman Ghias. John's love of cars started as a kid, he and his brother worked hard to buy an old roadster when they were teenagers, they fixed it up and drove it all over the countryside of Fort Worth.until they got caught! John built dragsters and raced in the sixties, he had several street racers as well. John always had some snarly little mutt sitting on his lap. John's love of his children was not lost on the neighbor kids nor his love of animals. The neighborhood children would flock over to hang out and do stuff with Mr. Cooking, gardening, camping, fishing, riding bikes, building bikes, riding motorcycles and minibikes running a forklift or a tractor building and racing dragsters, pulling a horse trailer or driving a motorhome.Learning to swim and dive the Culberhouse kids and many of their friends learned it from their dad. He taught his children to work hard and how to use their hands: from changing tires and oil on their vehicles to rebuilding engines or replacing brakes. The most important thing in John's life was his children and family, he instilled his values with an iron hand but loving heart.
John continued to do repair work into his late 70's. He contracted out to several of the local appliance stores and soon became the "go to guy" for Whirlpool and appliance repair. John started his own refrigeration and appliance repair company in Douglas County in the mid eighties. John returned to Southern California to reclaim his business and commuted for many years monthly, he finally returned permanently to reside in Laurelwood on Madrone Street with his family. Country life agreed with the Culberhouse Clan and the children thrived. Desirous of a quieter lifestyle John and Shirley bought 20 acres in Melrose and raised their children in the quiet rural community of Melrose. John and Shirley relocated to Melrose Oregon in 1973 with their four children. His nephews and nieces being very important to him and he loved them like his own children. John remained close to his family and kept the family ties alive even to his last days. John's children have many happy memories of sharing their father's Texas heritage over the years with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. John and his family spent many summer and Christmas vacations returning to Texas to see the Culberhouse family. Superior Appliance had a small fleet of trucks and service men including Shirley's father Leon and John's brother Bob. John started his own appliance service company in Los Angeles and did commercial refrigeration and repair in the Southern California area from Ventura County to Orange County. A true Texas gentleman - John worked hard and provided for his growing family while Shirley was a stay at home mom. They married in June of 1956 and settled in the San Gabriel Valley. Shirley was a beautiful raven haired girl and was the love of John's life. John met Shirley Ann Tiller while on leave in Southern California through a mutual friend. John and Shirley enjoyed many navy reunions with John's shipmates over the course of the last 20 years and he remained close to many of the men he served our country with on the Ashtabula. He served active duty in the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. John decided to join the navy his senior year of high school and finished his high school diploma in the service. They performed on the radio with their country and western music. John enjoyed sports especially football, music was another love of John's he played the steel guitar along with brother Bob and a group of musician friends. John grew up in the Fort Worth area with his older brother Robert and sisters Virginia and Mattie. John Murr Culberhouse was born on October 5th, 1931 in Fort Worth Texas to Robert and Kathryn Culberhouse.