Charles Daniel Culbreth

1951 - 2018

Charles Daniel Culbreth

Visalia - CHARLES DANIEL CULBRETH answered the invitation of his God on September 27, 2018, dying as he told so many of his family and friends he wanted to - asleep in his recliner with one of his Frenchies on his lap. It is clear that God blessed Charles with his wish, and we can hear His call "Well done, faithful servant."

Charles was born on July 5, 1951, at what is now Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia where his maternal grandparents lived. His grandfather, Charles Hamilton, was one of the original Trustees of College of the Sequoias. His parents, Marvin Derwood Culbreth and Georgia Jeanette Hamilton, together with sister Marva Cheryl, moved to Kingsburg, and then on to Oakland where they remained through Charles' college years. Charles had many wonderful memories of exploring and playing above the Chapel of the Chimes and at the quarry nearby. He excelled in school, taking great interest in music and drama. As a teenager, his father bought him his first electric bass…and the rest was history. Sadly, Charles' father died when he was 15 without being able to hear to fruits of that gift…Charles graduated from Oakland High School in 1969 and attended Cal State Hayward, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Music. While playing bass in dance bands throughout the Bay Area (Truth - the band that led him to wife, Wendy Evans), his major instrument in college was the flute.

Charles' musicianship as a bassist led him to a job at the Oakland Cathedral under the direction of Fr. Don Osuna. It was there that he developed his love for the Catholic faith and became a confirmed member of the Catholic Church. Charles' first parish music directorship was in Dublin at St. Raymond's Catholic Church where, in 1973, he married his wife of 44 years on the day after her conversion to the Faith. They served as music ministers together for the parishes of St. Raymond's, Most Precious Blood in Concord and St. John's in El Cerrito until 1987. Charles wrote liturgical music during that time and, with his group, Conversation, gave concerts in the Bay Area, including performances with Bob Hurd and Jeffrey Keyes. Charles' daughters, Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa, Jorja Culbreth-Burnett and Morgan Culbreth, grew up in the midst of the music created and made in their home. All of the girls are musical in their own rights.

Following the death of his mother, Charles moved his family back to Visalia in 1987 to be close to Wendy's mother, Alexis Ohlhoff Evans. He attended Fresno State University and received a Masters degree in Choral Conducting. During his time in Fresno, Charles served as Director of Music at St. John's Cathedral for four years. In 1991, Charles centered his work in Visalia, teaching Choir and Fine Arts at Green Acres Middle School and, with Wendy, offering music ministry at Holy Family Parish. In 1993, Msgr. Thomas Kleinhans asked Charles to direct music ministry at St. Mary's Church where he remained until his retirement in July of 2017. After nine years at Green Acres, Charles directed the Redwood High School Choral Department for seven years. He retired from public school teaching and became the music teacher for George McCann Catholic School. Mr. C dedicated his efforts at GMC to the fostering of "singing young Catholics", liturgical awareness, general music skills, outstanding Christmas and Spring Sing programs, the Eighth Grade Bell Choir for which he wrote all of the scores, including Stairway to Heaven…and, not to be forgotten, his annual role as emcee for the Halloween Parade.

Charles enjoyed his year of retirement, spending time with Charley and Mimi, his French Bulldogs, and making trips to visit Morgan in Seattle and Jorja in Sonoma. He rejoined the GMC community in August and led the Bell Choir at the recent Fatima Rosary…his last musical offering in this life…

Charles is survived by his wife, Wendy, daughters Charlotte (Joe) Da Rosa, Jorja (Chad) Burnett and Morgan, his grandsons Jonathan Edward Da Rosa and Joseph Charles Da Rosa, granddaughter Jessie Lynn Picklo-Da Rosa and her son, Spencer Flynn Airoso. He is also survived by his sister, Marva Cheryl Culbreth, his sister-in-law, and son Kyle Eichelkraut, Susan Evans and her children, Nadia Ricci, Ben Ricci and Michaela Evans, and beloved Culbreth cousins in North Carolina with whom he shared many wonderful visits and online communications through the years.

Charles' worldwide community of liturgical colleagues will carry on his crusade for beauty in worship and right relationship of musical expression in the Roman Catholic Church.

We who remain have been given his incredible gift of musical composition. For the community, a tribute to Jimi Hendrix arranged for the Tulare County Symphony featuring senior musicians from Redwood High School (now professional musicians) and choral arrangements (additional) for the original musical, Rancho Tesoro, written by TCOE Theater Company's founding director, Brian Roberts, and performed by TCOE Theater Company. His many liturgical compositions, some of which are included on the CD, Here in the Dust, include an arrangement of Whatsoever You Do (Jabusch), and original compositions This Is My Body, The Farewell, Ave Verum Corpus, Anima Christi, By the Streams of Babylon, The Salt Doll (for Joyce Imbach), Song of Commitment, On Our Way (for sister, Marva), Shaughnessy Fanfare (for Kevin Shaughnessy), O God of Loveliness and In Paradisum (for Judy Garcia, mother of Joe Da Rosa). All of these offerings live on to the Glory of God.

May he rest in peace. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charles' memory to the Catholic School of Visalia - George McCann campus (for choir risers), Good Shepherd Catholic Parish (Music Ministry), Redwood High School Choral Department or Green Acres Middle School Choral Program.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass will be Celebrated Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Visalia. A reception will immediately follow in the Parish Hall.