William Joseph Culbert

PEABODY – Mr. William Joseph Culbert, 87, of Peabody, beloved husband of Rhonda (Hendrickson) Culbert, died peacefully on December 11, 2024.
Born in Boston, he was the son of Charles and Mary (Langlois) Culbert. He was raised in Jamaica Plain, and was a graduate of Mission Church High School. He continued his education at Northeastern University, earning a bachelor's degree in Science and Information technology. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned an MSMT from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Bill was employed for many years as a Senior Liaison Officer for the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, where, he was honored for his contributions to technology transfer, resulting in the development of some of the world's cutting edge scientific breakthroughs. As a young man he was employed by Draper Laboratories, as an Electrical Engineer, where he worked on the guidance system for Apollo 11. At NASA's invitation, he traveled to Cape Canaveral to watch the launch into space.
Bill served our nation in the United States Navy, as an Engineer aboard the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier where he shared many adventures with his brother Bob. He was happiest when on or near the ocean, spending the summers of his youth at the family cottage on Duxbury Beach. His passions were boating, diving, and fishing. He was the founder of a dive club and a past volunteer member of the Randolph MA Police Department, Search & Recovery Team. In his later years, he enjoyed cross country skiing and spending time at Winter Island in Salem, fishing or watching the boats in the harbor. He was an active member of the Pleasant Park and Lynn Yacht Clubs for years, a 29-year member of the American Legion-Marsh Post #442, in Cambridge, and a member of the Winthrop Elks Lodge.
Bill and Rhonda were happily married for 25 years, and were a great team and the very best of friends, who laughed their way through life. Their life together brought them to Winthrop and then Salem MA, before moving to Brooksby Village, in Peabody 8 years ago, where they've made many friends.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Rhonda (Hendrickson) Culbert of Peabody, and his children, William Culbert of Randolph, Veronica Mehigan and her husband, James of Phippsburg, ME, Laura Culbert-Epison and her husband, Jerry of Manchester, NH, Christopher Culbert of Fountain, CO, and step-daughter, Heidi Caswell and her husband, Jeremy of Lady Lake, FL. He leaves behind his dear sisters, Mary Conlon of Milford, MA, and Patricia Mulcahy and her husband, Kevin of Quincy, MA, and 2 brothers, the late Robert Culbert of Dover, MA and Charles Culbert of Marshfield, MA. He is survived by 8 nieces and nephews, and 18 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to his celebration of Life service which will be held at the Chapel at Brooksby Village, 301 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, MA, Saturday May 10th, 2025 at 1:00 pm. A donation in Bill's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Pl., Memphis, TN, 38105. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com
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