John R. Culbreath

1926 - 2013

John R. Culbreath

John Richard Culbreath, a fourth generation Floridian, born June 27, 1926, in Tampa, Florida, passed away at his home in Monticello, Fla. on June 25, 2013. He attended public schools in Tampa and graduated from Henry B. Plant High School in June, 1944. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he served as a Flight Engineer in the Pacific Theater of Operation. After his discharge, he enrolled in the University of Georgia and graduated in three years with a BBA in 1949. He accepted a position with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in their commercial sales division. One year later he was offered the management of the Firestone Store in the St. Petersburg, Florida and became the youngest Firestone store manager in the country. He then met a young man named Jack McMullen who was in the family dairy business in Largo, Florida. Within a year he left Firestone, bought a large dairy as a partner with his new friend and purchased registered Herefords and began a lifetime in the livestock business.

In 1950 he married Barbara Jean Council also a native of Tampa. They were blessed with two daughters, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Their oldest daughter, Sherry is married to Fred Dickinson and resides in Tallahassee. Their younger daughter, Candi, lives in Monticello and is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law and is a member of the Florida Bar. Their granddaughter, Caroline, and her husband Ross Loomis have two and half year old daughter, Harper. Their grandson, John Pitt, and his wife Bess have a 10 month old daughter, Liza.

After a move to Brooksville, Florida John became active in community affairs. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club and Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank of Brooksville. He was also a member of the Brooksville - Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, Hernando County Fair Association, Gulf Ridge Council of Boy Scouts of America, Hernando County Cattlemen's Association and Hernando County Horsemen's Association. In 1960 he was named by the Florida Junior Chamber of Commerce as the outstanding young Farmer of the year. He became active in politics and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1967 where he served for twelve years. When John left the legislatures he became a Lobbyist which precipitated a move to Tallahassee, Florida where he resided for 21 years. At retirement he and his wife yearned for the real country life and bought a farm north of Monticello.

His interest and loves were his family, horses, fox hunting and college football.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Daphne, his father, Hugh L. Culbreath, and his only brother, H. L. Culbreath, Jr., all of Tampa.

A Memorial Service will be held at the United Methodist Church of Monticello on Monday, July 1st at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Hopewell Methodist Church Cemetery in Tampa on Tuesday, July 2nd at 1 p.m.

The family request that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the United Methodist Church of Monticello or their charity of choice.