MARY EILEEN CULP

Mary Eileen Dubler Culp was born in Ridgway, PA on March 19, 1937.  She went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 20, 2024.

Mary Eileen graduated from Johnsonburg High School, Johnsonburg, PA in 1955.  Mary Eileen graduated from St. Margaret’s School of Nursing in Albany, New York as a Child Nurse.  Mary Eileen worked as a Child Nurse at St. Margaret’s after graduation.  She also worked for the Ridgway Hospital in Ridgway, PA in the operating room, at the Philipsburg Hospital in Philipsburg, PA, and at Warren County Christian School in Youngsville, PA. 

She was married to Ralph Culp on Sept. 19, 1964.  After getting married and moving to Maryland, she was employed in the Gandy Goose Day Care Nursery until her son Todd was born in 1968.  That is where she met Faye Wolfgang, her longtime friend and godmother to her son Todd.  Faye’s husband John Wolfgang was Todd’s godfather. 

In 1969 Mary Eileen and her husband and son moved to Tidioute, PA where they lived for 19 years.  During those years Mary Eileen was very involved in the First United Methodist Church.  She was a member of the Good Shepherd Circle, President of United Methodist Women, Adult Bible Class, Mary Martha Class, Council on Ministries, Youth Ministries Coordinator, and Junior United Methodist Youth.  When her husband Ralph was transferred from Tidioute Office to Ridgway Office of PNC Bank, she was involved in Trinity United Methodist Church where she belonged to an Adult Bible Class, the Empty Nesters Group and participated in other areas of ministry within the church. 

After three years in Ridgway, her husband Ralph was transferred to Warren where they have lived since 1991.   After moving to Warren, Mary Eileen was very involved in the Epworth United Methodist Church where she was active in the Adult Bible Class and participated in other areas of ministry within the church.  She helped her husband with the Passion Play that he directed for 17 years.  After Epworth United Methodist Church and Salem United Methodist Church combined and changed their name to Covenant United Methodist Church, which is now Covenant Methodist Church of Warren PA, Mary Eileen continued in membership where she was a member of the Persuaders Class, as well as other areas of ministry.  In 1997, while they were still members of Epworth United Methodist Church, her husband Ralph responded to God’s call to enter into part-time ministry in the United Methodist Church.  Ralph was appointed to serve at the Grand Valley and Sanford United Methodist Churches, and they moved into the parsonage in Grand Valley, PA.  They spent 17 years serving these two churches.  She was Ralph’s partner in ministry throughout those years—an invaluable helpmate to him and the people they both served and loved.  Mary Eileen was involved heavily in the churches and their activities.  She was a member of the Adult Bible Class, a member and at one time served as President of United Methodist Women, attended Bible Study weekly, was involved in the Angel Tree Ministry and Samaritan’s Purse Ministry, as well as participating in other ministry activities within both churches.  Mary was also a member of Close To The Heart transplant group in Warren, PA that was started by their neighbor Debbie Sumner. 

Mary Eileen loved her family and friends deeply and was always a very caring and giving person, who had a wonderful sense of humor.  She was much loved by all who knew her.  She had a very compassionate heart that reached out and touched many lives.  Mary Eileen and her husband, Ralph, had been married for 59 ½ years this year.  She was a wonderful soulmate , who served with him in the churches for which he was Pastor.  They served side by side in ministry as partners doing what God called them to do.  Mary Eileen loved her son Todd, who was dear to her heart.  She also loved those whom she called her “adopted grandchildren”, Brenton, Katelyn & her husband Christian Bundy & their daughter Klaire, and Bryceton Maille, and their parents Matt and Diana Maille.  Mary Eileen was preceded in death by her mother, Edna Kirkpatrick Dubler, her father, Frederick B. Dubler, her stepmother, Dorothy M. Gorton Dubler, her sister-in-law, Dolores M. Culp Kravetsky, her brother-in-law, Paul E. “Ted” Culp,

She is survived by her husband, Ralph Culp, her son, Todd Culp, her brother Frederick Dubler (Deborah), her sister-in-law, Carolyn Culp Baratta (Frank), her sister-in-law Judy Culp, her brother-in-law, Charles Kravetsky, as well as her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Warren County, 1 Main Ave., Warren, PA 16365, Covenant Methodist Church, 1624 Pennsylvania Avenue East, Warren, PA 16365, or any other charity of choice. 

 Visitation will be on Saturday, April 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Covenant Methodist Church, 1624 Pennsylvania Avenue East, Warren, PA. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am in the church with Rev. Jon Swart officiating.  Interment will be at Swedish Union Cemetery, Tidioute, PA. Email condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com. The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc., has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.