Ray E. "SPARKY" Culver passed away at 10:15 PM, January 6, 2017 at Cumberland Pointe in West Lafayette. He was born September 16, 1922 in rural Fowler, IN to Willard T and Katherine Chase Culver.

He graduated from Chalmers High School where he excelled in basketball. He was attending Purdue University on Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

He married Juanita C Shell on October 4, 1942 at Chalmers Methodist Church. When they returned from a short honeymoon his draft papers had arrived.

He left Monticello, IN for Ft. Benjamin Harrison in November, 1942, where he was inducted into the Army. He received his Military training at Ft Brag, N Carolina and Camp Lyon, Tennessee. He crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. He was with the 462 Medical Collecting Co. D-Day was June 8th. The 462 crossed the English Channel D-Day + 5. The Channel was still filled with dead bodies from the invasion.

When the War in Europe ended followed by the War in the Pacific, the 462 came back home. Ray was honorably discharged with rank of Cpl. He received 4 lron Stars and a good conduct metal.

Ray spent the next 45 years grain farming and raising livestock. After retiring in Dec. 1990, the couple spent the winter months at Emerald Lake in Clermont, FL. Ray was a charter member of the Chalmers Community Church, where he served on the Board of Managers two different times.

He enjoyed playing golf, but his main love was fishing. For many years he and Juanita went to Eli, MN fishing. The past few years he has gone with a group of men. For several years he planted a big garden which he shared with family and friends.

Ray was proceeded in death by his parents, Brothers, Glenn and his wife Doris and Ivan (Red) and a sister, Marjorie Woods Zarse, a son-in-law, Ray Parrish, and an infant, great-granddaughter, Gabriella Culver.

He is survived by children: Carolyn Tully, Daniel (Joyce) Culver, Douglas Culver, Susan (Wayne) Speicher and Julie Parrish, 15 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren: Connie (Don) Vauters, Ashley and Taylor (Steve Toyra); Bill (Naty) Tully, Romina, Isabella; James (Gretchen) Tully, Hannah, Ruth, Esther, Noah and Elijah; Timothy (Laura) Tully, Josiah, Joshua, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Anna Joy; Jeremy (Erin) Tully, Sarah, Kara, Grace, Luke, Chase, John, Michael, Jerin, and Teddy; Shane (Monica) Culver, Peyton, Rielly, Mallory, Ellie, Corrie and Beckett; Scott (Michelle) Culver, Isaac, Autumn, Paul and Bethany; Tara (David) Mason, Aaron and Tennessee; Tawny Culver, Ethan Culver and Brenda Culver; Jason (Anna) Speicher, Leiana, Moses; Chrisry Speicher; Mathew (Lindsay) Speicher, Elias, Liam, Grace and Siena; Ray Parrish, Jr; and a sister-in-law, Agnes Culver.

Friends may call from 9 AM until the time of Funeral Service at 11 AM Saturday, January 14, 2016 at the Chalmers Community Church (103 N 2nd St, Chalmers, IN 47929). Pastor Bill Henderson to officiate. Interment to follow in Chalmers Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Ray's name to the Chalmers Community Church.

Share memories and condolences online at www.clapperfuneralservices.com