Marvin Eugene Culver

Marvin Eugene Culver, 81, of Altus, Okla., and formerly of Elgin, died May 2 in Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held at Kincannon's Funeral Home in Altus, Okla., on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. A private family gathering for those in Oregon and Washington is planned later.

Marvin was born Nov. 12, 1928, in Durkee Valley, the third of five children born to Guy and Elmy (Hesner) Culver. He graduated from Baker High School in 1946.

He served in the Army during the Korean War.

Later the family moved to Elgin. He was an owner and mechanic at the Atlantic Richfield service station. He was married to Patricia Buschke and together they raised three children. The family moved to the Tri-Cities, Wash., in 1965 where he served as a long-time mechanic and handyman for Atlantic Richfield, Richland Rentals, Thompson Mechanical, and the city of Richland.

He married Wanda Taylor Kassman in 1981. They lived in the Tri-Cities until his retirement and then moved to co-locate in Altus, Okla., with sister-in-law Lucille Beeson.

He always took a good "stretch of the legs" walk each day, loved music and danced his own little jig, liked a good joke, enjoyed traveling and seeing the sites. He worked hard grooming his yard and fussed over his garden. He liked home-cooked meals and a big bowl of ice cream for dessert.

Marvin is survived by his wife Wanda; his children, Patsy Culver Kwis and husband Ron of Kennewick, Wash., Brian Culver and wife June of Brier, Wash., and Marc Culver and wife Josette of Cheney, Wash.; stepdaughter, Lucy Brett and husband Dwight and children of Richland, Wash.; stepson, Robert Taylor; brothers, Clifford Culver and wife Jeannine of Baker City; and Delmer Culver and wife Kayce of Umatilla. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Kathleen Weatherspoon Slack and Elvera Scott Trump of Elgin. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews of the Culver/Scott/Weatherspoon families of Eastern Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to local hospices or prevention of Alzheimer's programs.

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