Dr. John McCleary Culler Jr.

Dr. John McCleary Culler Jr., 82, prominent retired Frederick physician of 116 Fairview Ave., died Friday morning, Jan. 22, at Vindobona Nursing Home, Braddock Heights.

He was the husband of Mary Ruth Harner Culler.

Born March 16, 1916, in Frederick, he was a son of the late John M. and Mary Ada Biggs Culler Sr.

Dr. Culler graduated from Frederick High School in 1934, and from Western Maryland College, Westminster. He then attended the University of Maryland Medical School.

Upon graduation, he began his medical residency at the Baltimore Church Home Hospital, until he was called to serve with the U.S. Army during World War II.

He served as commanding officer of a U.S. Army Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, until his discharge at the conclusion of the war, then he resumed his residency in Baltimore.

He returned to Frederick in 1949, and began his practice of general surgery and served for several terms as chief of staff of Frederick Memorial Hospital. He retired from practice in 1986.

He held a membership in the American College of Surgeons.

Active within the Frederick community, Dr. Culler served as physician for Independent Hose Co. 1, and for other fire companies in the area.

He served on the board of directors of Farmers & Mechanics National Bank and Frederick Historical Society.

He also served as staff physician of the former Loats Orphan Home, East Church Street, and Vindobona Nursing Home, Braddock Heights.

He was a member of Frederick Presbyterian Church in his youth, and later a member of Grace United Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon and elder.

He was also a member of John R. Webb Post, VFW, and Francis Scott Key Post 11, American Legion. He was a patron of Rose Hill Manor, and constructed models of the Clustered Spires of Frederick, which are now displayed at the children's museum at Rose Hill Manor.

Dr. Culler was well known for his interest in HO Gauge model railroading and coil collecting.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two children, John M. Culler III and wife Frances of Lewis Center, Ohio, and Trish Culler and husband Daniel E. Surber of Frederick; and four grandchildren, Jarrett M. and Jeffrey M. Culler, and Carolee and Gary M. Smith.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 24, at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick, where funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25. The Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Foster, pastor of Grace United Church of Christ, assisted by the Revs. Daniel E. Surber and Roger Rollins, will officiate.

Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Frederick Memorial Hospital, 400 W. Seventh St., Frederick, Md. 21701; to Frederick County Historical Society, 24 E. Church St., Frederick, Md. 21701; to Home Call Inc., 192 Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick, Md. 21702; to Frederick County Humane Society, 1832 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, Md. 21702; or to Vindobona Nursing Home, 6012 Jefferson Blvd., Braddock Heights, Md. 21714.