Dearl Kenneth Caulk

1928 - 2017

Dearl Kenneth Caulk, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born in Lenna, Oklahoma, on October 22, 1928, and claimed his place in Heaven on November 28, 2017, after a brief illness. He met his wife of 64 years, Bobbie Lou Denson, at Bartlett Junior High, kissed her on their first date in 1953 – and married her by morning. He embraced her son, Joel, as his own. Previous to his marriage, Dearl had proudly served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force in both World War II and Korea. He joined the Church of the Nazarene with Bobbie and his boy in 1955, and welcomed Dana, their first daughter, that same year. He determined to return to school to better support his growing family. In June of 1956, while working various jobs, he received his Associate of Arts degree one day and his high school diploma the next. That fall, he continued his studies at Fresno State University, receiving a provisional teaching certificate as he worked full time at North American Aircraft. By 1957, Dearl and Bobbie had their third child, Robin, and he began teaching at Sunnyside. He had found his calling. Over the next few years, as he went on to teach at Doyle, Saucilito, and Burton, he completed his credential and his Masters in Education. Dearl and Bobbie were blessed with two more children: Leslie was born in 1962 and Steven in 1966. Throughout these years, Dearl dedicated himself to his family – and to his classroom. He became known throughout Porterville as a compassionate, caring teacher, spending most of his career in the Burton School District, 1966-1988. He cared for his students and worked to help them beyond the classroom.
Dearl was a man of faith who found his second home in his church family. He was a robust Christian who would invite all he met to church, hoping for them the same joys and satisfaction he received by serving the Lord. Dearl was also known as a softball player: he started pitching at Bartlett in 1941 and continued to pitch through a 47-year career. He pitched fast-pitch softball for the Church of the Nazarene team for the majority of his career, tallying 16 strike outs in his final game in 1988. He was recognized around town by his Greek fishing cap and acknowledged for his sense of humor. He was ready to share a silly joke with any who would listen. Dearl's children were his favorite audience – and the source of his deepest joy. His most important role was being a family man. He loved his wife and his children. He was the kind of father every child wants: loving, tender, thoughtful, fair, and kind. Dearl was a generous man, giving his time and attention to what mattered most to him. He was an active member of his church, serving over the years as bus driver, Sunday School teacher, Board Member, and Greeter. He was also a supportive member of his community, volunteering regularly. In his later years, he took particular pride in supporting the Porterville Friends of the Library. Dearl offered a helping hand to any who needed it and extended his love and support to all who knew him.
Dearl is survived by Bobbie Caulk, his loving wife, adoring children Joel Caulk, Dana Carrera, Robin de la Llata Aime, Leslie Garman, and Steven Caulk; his dear sons through marriage, Greg Garman and John Aime; and the grandchildren he loved: Jennifer Perkins Brown, Aubree Garman, Spencer Garman Martin, Madison Caulk, Taylor Caulk, Ryan Pottorff, Blair Pirie, Brenden Doyle, Breonna Doyle, Richard Aime, and Will Aime. He is predeceased by his mother and father, Iva and John Caulk, his brother, Earl Caulk, sisters Evelyn Hart and Juanita Chernekoff, and granddaughter Camila de la Llata. He is loved by multiple grandchildren, dear friends in the Church, and friends and former students across Porterville. Many will miss him. All are glad to have known him.
A viewing will be held Friday, December 8, from 2:00-8:00pm at the Porterville Funeral and Cremation Center at 765 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville CA 93257. A Celebration of Dearl's Life will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 10:00am, at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene located at 2005 West Olive Ave., Porterville CA 93257. Lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make donations to Porterville Church of the Nazarene in support of their various outreach programs. Dearl Kenneth Caulk, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born in Lenna, Oklahoma, on October 22, 1928, and claimed his place in Heaven on November 28, 2017, after a brief illness. He met his wife of 64 years, Bobbie Lou Denson, at Bartlett Junior High, kissed her on their first date in 1953 – and married her by morning. He embraced her son, Joel, as his own. Previous to his marriage, Dearl had proudly served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force in both World War II and Korea. He joined the Church of the Nazarene with Bobbie and his boy in 1955, and welcomed Dana, their first daughter, that same year. He determined to return to school to better support his growing family. In June of 1956, while working various jobs, he received his Associate of Arts degree one day and his high school diploma the next. That fall, he continued his studies at Fresno State University, receiving a provisional teaching certificate as he worked full time at North American Aircraft. By 1957, Dearl and Bobbie had their third child, Robin, and he began teaching at Sunnyside. He had found his calling. Over the next few years, as he went on to teach at Doyle, Saucilito, and Burton, he completed his credential and his Masters in Education. Dearl and Bobbie were blessed with two more children: Leslie was born in 1962 and Steven in 1966. Throughout these years, Dearl dedicated himself to his family – and to his classroom. He became known throughout Porterville as a compassionate, caring teacher, spending most of his career in the Burton School District, 1966-1988. He cared for his students and worked to help them beyond the classroom.
Dearl was a man of faith who found his second home in his church family. He was a robust Christian who would invite all he met to church, hoping for them the same joys and satisfaction he received by serving the Lord. Dearl was also known as a softball player: he started pitching at Bartlett in 1941 and continued to pitch through a 47-year career. He pitched fast-pitch softball for the Church of the Nazarene team for the majority of his career, tallying 16 strike outs in his final game in 1988. He was recognized around town by his Greek fishing cap and acknowledged for his sense of humor. He was ready to share a silly joke with any who would listen. Dearl's children were his favorite audience – and the source of his deepest joy. His most important role was being a family man. He loved his wife and his children. He was the kind of father every child wants: loving, tender, thoughtful, fair, and kind. Dearl was a generous man, giving his time and attention to what mattered most to him. He was an active member of his church, serving over the years as bus driver, Sunday School teacher, Board Member, and Greeter. He was also a supportive member of his community, volunteering regularly. In his later years, he took particular pride in supporting the Porterville Friends of the Library. Dearl offered a helping hand to any who needed it and extended his love and support to all who knew him.
Dearl is survived by Bobbie Caulk, his loving wife, adoring children Joel Caulk, Dana Carrera, Robin de la Llata Aime, Leslie Garman, and Steven Caulk; his dear sons through marriage, Greg Garman and John Aime; and the grandchildren he loved: Jennifer Perkins Brown, Aubree Garman, Spencer Garman Martin, Madison Caulk, Taylor Caulk, Ryan Pottorff, Blair Pirie, Brenden Doyle, Breonna Doyle, Richard Aime, and Will Aime. He is predeceased by his mother and father, Iva and John Caulk, his brother, Earl Caulk, sisters Evelyn Hart and Juanita Chernekoff, and granddaughter Camila de la Llata. He is loved by multiple grandchildren, dear friends in the Church, and friends and former students across Porterville. Many will miss him. All are glad to have known him.
A viewing will be held Friday, December 8, from 2:00-8:00pm at the Porterville Funeral and Cremation Center at 765 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville CA 93257. A Celebration of Dearl's Life will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 10:00am, at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene located at 2005 West Olive Ave., Porterville CA 93257. Lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make donations to Porterville Church of the Nazarene in support of their various outreach programs. Dearl Kenneth Caulk, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, was born in Lenna, Oklahoma, on October 22, 1928, and claimed his place in Heaven on November 28, 2017, after a brief illness. He met his wife of 64 years, Bobbie Lou Denson, at Bartlett Junior High, kissed her on their first date in 1953 – and married her by morning. He embraced her son, Joel, as his own. Previous to his marriage, Dearl had proudly served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force in both World War II and Korea. He joined the Church of the Nazarene with Bobbie and his boy in 1955, and welcomed Dana, their first daughter, that same year. He determined to return to school to better support his growing family. In June of 1956, while working various jobs, he received his Associate of Arts degree one day and his high school diploma the next. That fall, he continued his studies at Fresno State University, receiving a provisional teaching certificate as he worked full time at North American Aircraft. By 1957, Dearl and Bobbie had their third child, Robin, and he began teaching at Sunnyside. He had found his calling. Over the next few years, as he went on to teach at Doyle, Saucilito, and Burton, he completed his credential and his Masters in Education. Dearl and Bobbie were blessed with two more children: Leslie was born in 1962 and Steven in 1966. Throughout these years, Dearl dedicated himself to his family – and to his classroom. He became known throughout Porterville as a compassionate, caring teacher, spending most of his career in the Burton School District, 1966-1988. He cared for his students and worked to help them beyond the classroom.
Dearl was a man of faith who found his second home in his church family. He was a robust Christian who would invite all he met to church, hoping for them the same joys and satisfaction he received by serving the Lord. Dearl was also known as a softball player: he started pitching at Bartlett in 1941 and continued to pitch through a 47-year career. He pitched fast-pitch softball for the Church of the Nazarene team for the majority of his career, tallying 16 strike outs in his final game in 1988. He was recognized around town by his Greek fishing cap and acknowledged for his sense of humor. He was ready to share a silly joke with any who would listen. Dearl's children were his favorite audience – and the source of his deepest joy. His most important role was being a family man. He loved his wife and his children. He was the kind of father every child wants: loving, tender, thoughtful, fair, and kind. Dearl was a generous man, giving his time and attention to what mattered most to him. He was an active member of his church, serving over the years as bus driver, Sunday School teacher, Board Member, and Greeter. He was also a supportive member of his community, volunteering regularly. In his later years, he took particular pride in supporting the Porterville Friends of the Library. Dearl offered a helping hand to any who needed it and extended his love and support to all who knew him.
Dearl is survived by Bobbie Caulk, his loving wife, adoring children Joel Caulk, Dana Carrera, Robin de la Llata Aime, Leslie Garman, and Steven Caulk; his dear sons through marriage, Greg Garman and John Aime; and the grandchildren he loved: Jennifer Perkins Brown, Aubree Garman, Spencer Garman Martin, Madison Caulk, Taylor Caulk, Ryan Pottorff, Blair Pirie, Brenden Doyle, Breonna Doyle, Richard Aime, and Will Aime. He is predeceased by his mother and father, Iva and John Caulk, his brother, Earl Caulk, sisters Evelyn Hart and Juanita Chernekoff, and granddaughter Camila de la Llata. He is loved by multiple grandchildren, dear friends in the Church, and friends and former students across Porterville. Many will miss him. All are glad to have known him.
A viewing will be held Friday, December 8, from 2:00-8:00pm at the Porterville Funeral and Cremation Center at 765 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville CA 93257. A Celebration of Dearl's Life will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 10:00am, at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene located at 2005 West Olive Ave., Porterville CA 93257. Lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make donations to Porterville Church of the Nazarene in support of their various outreach programs.