Warren Culbertson

Service:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
1:00 PM
Oakwood Cemetery
Corsicana, Tx

Warren A. Culbertson
May 18, 1919 - September 21, 2008

Pioneer in television meteorology, Warren A. Culbertson spent his early years in Boyce , Texas , before moving to Waxahachie with his family. After graduating from Waxahachie High School , he obtained a B.S. from Trinity University in 1940. He began graduate work in Chemistry at the University of Texas before joining the U. S. Army Air Force in 1942. He earned an M.S. in Meteorology from the California Institute of Technology in 1943 before going overseas to serve in North Africa and Italy . After the war, he taught Chemistry and Physics at Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington ).
In 1950 Culbertson accepted an offer to present the weather on WFAA Television in Dallas . His ability to provide the scientific background of weather conditions with clarity and charm led to a long career in the field. He worked at WFAA from 1950 to 1958, where he introduced Weather by Radar broadcasts in April of 1958. ABC affiliate WBKB in Chicago hired him later that year to bring Weather by Radar to their television broadcasts. Returning to Waxahachie in 1963 to take over his father's wholesale oil distribution business, he was soon back on television, presenting the weather on KDFW in Dallas from 1966 until his retirement in 1982. He continued in weather broadcasting part-time after retirement for several years at the radio station KVIL in Dallas .
In addition to his weather broadcasting career, Culbertson continued to teach in the 1950's at the Hockaday School in Dallas and on a Chicago morning television show for children during his time at WBKB. In his retirement he enjoyed teaching defensive driving classes for the AARP.
Even with his daily commute to Dallas , Culbertson participated fully in the Waxahachie community, serving on the Waxahachie City Council in the 1960's, joining the Rotary Club, and managing Culbertson Oil & LP Gas Company. He enjoyed carpentry and working with his hands, using those skills to save many old homes in Waxahachie long before preservation became popular. He spent many hours attending area museum lectures and exhibitions, and loved local theater. With a lively and inquiring mind, he developed a wide-ranging knowledge that he generously shared with many. Thanks to the support of many friends and neighbors, he was able to live on his own until a week ago, making a "Whataburger" run each morning to visit with friends.
Culbertson was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Dale Martin Culbertson, and an infant son, Robert Dale Culbertson. Survivors include daughter Kaye Culbertson Fuller and husband Roger Pierpont Fuller of Paige, Texas, daughter Margaret Culbertson and partner Sims McCutchan of Houston, devoted friend and companion Sydney Barr of Waxahachie, cousins Virginia Tschanz and Mary Colman of Colorado, brother-in-law Dr. William B. Martin and wife Helen Mackenzie Martin of Stephenville, Texas, nephew Bruce Martin and wife Barbara Cheaney of San Antonio, Texas, and niece Lesley Martin of Kansas City, Missouri.
Services to celebrate his life will be held graveside at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at the Oakwood Cemetery , Corsicana , Texas with Pastor Anna Whitehead officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sims Library, Waxahachie , Texas , the Amon Carter Museum , Fort Worth , Texas , or a library or art museum of your choice.
Services will be conducted under the direction of Wayne Boze Funeral Home, Waxahachie , Texas .
www.waynebozefuneralhome.com