Gilbert Denzil McCullough

THE PASSING OF GILBERT D. McCULLOUGH

 Born 97 years ago in 1927 on a farmstead near Hillsboro Texas, Gilbert D. McCullough married Christine Patrick in Hollywood Florida in 1949 and raised three sons -- Darrell, Duane and Brooke.

 He served time in the US Merchant Marines, US Army and 20 years in the US Air Force.

 His travels took him twice to the western Pacific theater during WW2 aboard a fuel ship and to Italy just after the war.

 As a Radio Technician in the USAF, Gilbert and his family were stationed at many USAF bases after the war -- such as Eluthera Bahamas, Misawa Japan, Newburg NY, Rantoul Il, Roswell NM, Kinchelo MI and ending at Homestead FL.

 After military retirement, Gilbert spent the last fifty-some years living in South Florida enjoying life with his family. He also spent several months working for his cousin as a consultant in Equador in 1969.

 In the early 1980's, Gilbert acquired a watersports business in Key Largo FL named Caribbean Watersports wherein two of his sons -- Darrell and Brooke, began to manage as a family business -- with Brooke branching out to his watersports business in Hilton Head SC. Duane has built a career as an artist.

 Gilbert's wife Christine was also an artist who specialized in paintings, sculpture and music, passed away from cancer in 1991.

 The time spent living in South Florida also included trips to the Caribbean and to the mountains of North Carolina where he built a small cabin in 2008 near Brevard NC.

 The last decade Gilbert has spent the Fall seasons at his cabin in NC -- next door to where Duane now lives with his wife Cynthia, while the rest of his time was spent at his former home in Key Largo FL -- where Brooke spends his Winter seasons.

 Capt Darrell and his wife Jean -- owners of Caribbean Watersports, have two daughters -- Victoria and Chelsea. Victoria now manages the family business -- and Chelsea, who recently married Marine Aviator Capt Brendan Sheehan. 

 In 2020, Gilbert began showing signs of memory loss and other health issues. And in early 2024, he was placed within a VA nursing home facility 3 miles west of where he married Christine in Hollywood FL.

 His ashes will be spread at several places -- including at the Pinewood Cemetery in South Miami where Christine' ashes were placed in 1991.

 Celebration of life events are being planned by his sons when more is known as to where they may take place.

 His spirit lives on in our memories.

 Before Gilbert passed away he wrote the following story:

 "NO RIPPLE - NO TSUNAMI - WAKE ON"

 My life has been pretty simple so why not a simple departure at my demise. Have a positive ID and direct cremation with ashes spread on top or about Chris' headstone in the Pinewood Cemetery where I long to be. I do not want you troops to go through the sadness that we experienced at Christine's funeral. We both lived a very happy life together and hopefully an eternal afterlife together.

 Gilbert D. McCullough, born June 3, 1927, joined his wife Christine, (died 1991), on that eternal tour and final PCS (Permanent Change of Station), leaving lots of love to Darrell, Duane, Brooke, Victoria, Chelsea, Jean and Cynthia. He served honorably in the US Merchant Marines, US Army, and retired from the United States Air Force. AR (dit da dit da dit), end of transmission, no reply expected.

 Gilbert also mentions the following relatives in his last statement to notify upon his departure:

 RL Nowlin

Jane & Jean Partin

Robert Burkett (Passed away 2020)

Roger Patrick

Barbara & Dianna Sulivan (Last to see Gilbert alive)