Local fire fighters raised a flag across Main Street in Batavia June 20 in honor of former fire chief Harry Howard Culbertson Jr., 73, who died June 14.
Culbertson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2001. His wife, Jo Ann, said he had brain surgery in 2008 that significantly helped his tremor, however after a fall in May, she said his condition deteriorated.
“He was a fun-loving person,” Jo Ann said about her husband. “Family meant everything to him. He loved people.”
Culbertson was born in Owensville and grew up on Glen Este-Withamsville Road. He attended high school in Batavia and went on to be a volunteer fire fighter in the town.
“He never really said a lot about it,” Jo Ann said about Harry’s volunteer work. “He felt it had to be done and someone had to do it, so he did. He just felt he was helping the community.”
Culbertson volunteered as a fire fighter for more than 30 years, during which he was appointed as volunteer chief and served as chief during the 1978 explosion at Auxier Gas in Batavia. Jo Ann said the family was always willing to step up and help in the community.
“When there was something that needed to be done, if we were available, and it was something we agreed with, we did it,” Jo Ann said.
In addition to his volunteer work as a fire fighter, Culbertson also worked at Cincinnati Bell.
Jo Ann said when he wasn’t working he enjoyed fishing, playing cards and most importantly spending time with his family, which Jo Ann said was their priority. He would go to his son’s basketball games and watch his daughter play piano and run track. Jo Ann also recalled some memories of time they spent together.
“Years ago there were a lot of dances around,” Jo Ann said. “About once a month we’d go to a dance and he always had a good time.”
Jo Ann and Harry were married for 51 years. Harry is also survived by his children Linda Culbertson (David Dorfman) and Stephen (Alice) Culbertson, his grandchildren Hannah and Emma Dorfman and Suzanne and Katrina Culbertson and sister Audrey Culbertson.
The service for Culbertson was held at 11 a.m. June 20 at Faith United Methodist Church and was followed by a funeral procession down North Street and Main Street in Batavia to Batavia Union Cemetery, he Culbertson was buried.
“I thought it was beautiful,” Jo Ann said about what the fire fighters did for the procession. “I was so touched by what they did.”