Charles "Cully" Culwell

September 26, 1932 - July 3, 2020

Charles (Cully) W. Culwell was born September 26, 1932 to Billie Dean and Wendell Erwin Culwell. He passed away July 3, 2020 at the age of 87 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. Cully grew up in University Park. He attended Texas Country Day (now Saint Marks), Missouri Military Academy, Highland Park High School and SMU, where he was a member of SAE Fraternity. He was known to say the U.S. Army rounded out his education during the Korean War, giving him the opportunity to learn what the real world was about. During his years he was active in The Dallas Big Brothers, coached YMCA football, was a member of the Dallas Retail Merchants Assoc., The Salemanship Club, The Dallas Businessman’s Flying Assoc., The Dallas Country Club and was a founding member of the Turtle Creek Breakfast Club. In business he had a 38-year career with Culwell & Son, during which time he started Air Wear Inc. (an airline uniform company), Hinton Aircraft (aircraft maintenance shop) at Addison Airport, Executive West (corporate hangars also at Addison Airport). He ended his business career developing the Culwell Ranch on the north shore of Grapevine Lake into Stafford Estates. He had a great love for the outdoors, boating and flying. He enjoyed his home in Snowmass, Colorado to the fullest, as well as his residence in Ft. Lauderdale, behind which he kept a motor yacht, the Marilyn K. The Bahamas were sort of a third home, as he and Marilyn spent part of every year in the Exuma Island chain. He often said his greatest achievement in his life was marrying Marilyn Karen Krebs on July 9, 1955, whom he met while she was a student at SMU. At the time he was working in his father’s store, The Varsity Shop, across from the school. He said he could not have had a more loving wife and wonderful mother to their children. During this wonderful life with Marilyn they had a 16-year period where they met up with a special little airplane, a Piper Super Cub, someplace in the world for a 6-week tour. Most of all Marilyn was his best friend and would go anywhere with him, whether it was trekking in Nepal or touring Africa in the Super Cub. Cully is survived by his wife Marilyn, his sister Evelyn Wright, son Mike Culwell and wife Adrianne of Dallas, daughter Karen Culwell Barnett of Estes Park, Colorado, 6 grandchildren, Blair Culwell Staky, Katherine Culwell Porter, Caroline Culwell Bagnasco, Taylor Barnett, Harrison Barnett, Marilyn Barnett and 3 great grandchildren. Due to conditions created by COVID 19 the family has chosen to have a private graveside service. Your thoughts and prayers are kindly appreciated. A special thanks to the staff of Belmont Village that took wonderful care of Cully. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Highland Park United Methodist Church – hpumc.org, The Center for BrainHealth - centerforbrainhealth.org - or the charity of your choice.