Steven O "Steve" Culpepper

Steven O. "Steve" Culpepper was born on December 10, 1951, in Winter Haven, Florida. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 11, 2026, eight years after being diagnosed with vascular dementia. He was 74 years old.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Odie Culpepper; his mother, Agnes Carnley Cook; and his son, Steven "Michael" Culpepper. He leaves behind his daughters: Stephanie Culpepper Bass (Jess Anthony), Rebecca Gustafson (Tony), and Kimberly Pitcher (Matt). He was a proud grandfather to Todd-Michael Gustafson (Madison), Dhanielle Smith, Kailyn Leighton, Kaylee Pitcher, and Makenzie Pitcher. He is also survived by his sisters, Linda Culpepper and Nancy Cassista (David); his nephew, Leon Fleeman (Kim); and his great-nephews, Nicholas, Liam, and Connor.

Steve was a 1970 graduate of Winter Haven High School. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, you could find him on a Saturday night racing his black Cutlass Supreme at Auburndale Speedway, back when locals were allowed to bring their own cars to the track. He always loved fast cars, horsepower, and the thrill of the race.

At 19 years old, he began working for Coca-Cola's Minute Maid division in Auburndale. He worked his way up from foreman to supervisor and remained there for 26 years, until Minute Maid was bought out by another company. After Minute Maid, he took a leap of faith and opened his own auto repair business, working out of his garage at home. Fixing cars wasn't just a job; it was part of who he was. That space wasn't just where he worked; it was where life happened. In many ways, that was how he loved. Every time one of his children came to visit, he would walk them out to their car when they were leaving. As they got in and turned the key, he would suddenly say, "Pop that hood for me." He always had to check the motor, look at the oil, and inspect the tires to make sure they would be safe on the road. Over time, his children realized it wasn't just about safety; it was his way of taking care of them one more time, his way of holding on just a little longer before watching them back out of the driveway and drive away.

Steve's life was full and layered. He was married twice and was blessed with four children, three from his first marriage and one from his second. After both marriages ended in divorce, he knew marriage wasn't something he was very good at, and he chose to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life.

In the 1980s, when his children were young, weekends meant loading up the boat and heading out on the Chain of Lakes. They would start at Lake Cannon and make their way through the chain, always ending at Lake Eloise to watch the Cypress Gardens Ski Show before making their way back to Lake Cannon.

If he wasn't under the hood of a car or socializing in the driveway with one of his neighbors, he was likely sitting at his usual table at the Sea Flame in Auburndale. For several years, he ate there nearly every single day until it closed in 2010. The owners affectionately called him the "King of Sea Flame." He loved the conversations, the friendships, the sense of community, and bringing his children and grandchildren there when they visited.

Later in life, some of his most special moments were spent fishing with his only son, Steven "Michael" Culpepper. Their bond was deep, full of inside jokes, playful teasing, and the quiet understanding only a father and son share, until Michael sadly passed away in 2020 from sudden cardiac arrest.

His daughters cherish memories of their dad singing classic rock songs every time they were in the car. Music was always part of the ride. Years later, when words were harder to find and conversations were few, you could turn on an Elvis song and watch something light up inside him. His foot would begin to tap, and he would often sing every word. The music reached places dementia could not touch. In those moments, he was fully himself, and his daughters were right there with him, holding his hand and soaking in every moment.

In 2018, Steve was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Over the next eight years, the strong, protective father who had always taken care of everyone slowly began needing care himself. It was a long road filled with hard days and tender moments as independence slipped away piece by piece. As an alpha male, he did not like being told what to do by his daughters or anyone. But as the disease progressed, he began to embrace the love and care his daughters poured over him. He became their "baby," and they became fiercely protective of him, and he loved every minute of it. They spoiled him with hugs, kisses, and his favorites: rib meals from Peebles Barbecue; his favorite fruits, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries; and his favorite banana cream pies from Moreno's Bakery. Some people said they spoiled him too much, but they didn't care. They made sure that in his final years, he and everyone around him knew just how deeply he was loved.

The roles may have reversed in the end, but the love never did.

Though our hearts are heavy, we find comfort knowing the man who loved fast cars now runs free, reunited with his son and mother, and resting in the presence of Jesus.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Lake Ariana Park in Mac's Room. The service will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Culpepper's Cardiac Foundation. The foundation was created by Melanie Brown Culpepper Beilke in honor of Steve's late son, Michael, who was her fiancé at the time of his passing. To date, 85 AEDs have been placed in various businesses throughout Polk County and several in Hillsborough County.

Steve's family would love to purchase an AED in his honor, made possible by the generosity of the friends and family who loved him, so that another life-saving device can be placed in the community in his name.

Donations may be made via Venmo or Cash App at culpepperaed.com, or checks may be mailed to:

Culpepper's Cardiac Foundation757 Avenue B SouthwestWinter Haven, FL 33880