Private First Class Lawrence James Culver, U.S. Army [August 3, 1926 – May 4, 1945] was born to Harry Arrans Culver [March 16, 1889 – March 25, 1961] and Freda Johanna (Behmer) Culver [December 15, 1891 – July 31, 1961] at Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas.  He attended grammar school in Wadsworth and was a student at Bay City High school at the time he entered the service.  Before joining the Army he was in the Boy Scouts and while home on furlough in December 1944 he was promoted to Eagle Scout.  He was also an Altar Boy in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years, and was the first in the parish to lose his life in WWII.  Lawrence was attached to the 259^th Infantry Regiment, 65^th Infantry Division when he was Killed In Action.  The 65^th Infantry Division landed at Le Havre, France on January 21, 1945 and proceeded to Camp Lucky Strike*, where training continued until March 1^st, when the Division moved forward to relieve the 26^th Infantry Division.  First elements of the Division entered the line on March 5, 1945, and the Division as a whole took over aggressive defense of the sector along the Saar, from Orscholtz to Wadgassen, on March 8, 1945.  On March 17, the Division attacked across the Saar, crossing the river at Dillingham and captured Saarlautern, on March 19, as the Seigfried Line defenses cracked.  Capturing Neunkirchen, March 21, 1945, the Division raced to the Rhine, crossed the river at Oppenheim March 30, and ran into heavy German resistance and counterattacks.  Langensalza fell on April 5, Struth on the 7^th, and Neumarkt on the 22^nd.  Continuing its advance against crumbling Nazi opposition, the Division crossed the Danube four miles below Regensburg on April 26, took the city on April 27, seized Passau and crossed the Inn River on May 4, and occupied Linz, Austria on May 5.  Germans surrendered en masse.  On May 9, as hostilities officially ended in Europe, the troops of the 65^th made contact with the Russians at Erlauf.  Lawrence was first interred at Saint Avold Cemetery, Metz, France.  When his family requested for his remains to be returned to the United States, his remains were repatriated in c.1948/49 and were re-interred at the Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Texas.  He was survived by his parents, Harry and Freda; one brother, Col. Frances A. Culver, Santa Barbara, CA and his twin sister Miss Lillian Culver.

*Located at Janville, France.

WADSWORTH YOUTH KILLED IN ACTION GERMANY MAY 4

      Pvt. First Class Lawrence James Culver, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Culver, members of the Sacred Heart Church, Wadsworth, Texas, was killed in action in Germany, May 4, according to word received by his parents from the War Department.

      Besides his parents, one brother, Col. Frances A. Culver, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Pvt. Culver’s twin sister, Miss Lillian Culver, Wadsworth, survive.

      Former Bay City High School Student ― Pvt. Culver was born August 3, 1926, in Old Gulf, Tex. He attended grammar school in Wadsworth, Tex. And was a student of the Bay City high school at the time he entered the service.

      He received his training at Camp Hood, Tex.

      Former Altar Boy ― Private Culver, served as Altar Boy in the Sacred Heart Church for a good many years. He is the first of the parish to lose his life in World War II.

      Former Scout ― Private Culver was a diligent worker in the Boy Scout and had won the rating of Eagle Scout before he went into the army. This award was given to him on his last furlough in December when he was presented the Eagle Scout Badge.

      Requiem ― Memorial services, with Requiem High Mass will be held in the Sacred Heart Church, Saturday, Aug. 18, at 7:00 a.m. by Pastor, Reverend Christopher Martin. Father Martin is also pastor of the Holy Cross Church in Bay City, Tex.       

The Daily Tribune, August 9, 1945
 

Reburial Rites James Culver Held Monday

Reburial rites were held for Lawrence James Culver, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Culver of Wadsworth at the Sacred Heart Church in Wadsworth, Monday morning at 9 o’clock. Interment was in Matagorda Cemetery.

Pfc. Lawrence James Culver lost his life in a river near Nuremberg, Germany, May 4, 1945. He was with the 259^th Infantry of the 65^th Infantry Division. He enlisted August 29, 1944.

Pvt. Culver was born August 3, 1926 in Old Gulf, Texas. He attended grammar school in Wadsworth and was a student of the Bay City high school at the time he entered the service.

He served as Altar Boy in the Sacred Heart Church for a good many years at Wadsworth. He was the first of the Wadsworth parish to lose his life in World War II.

His body arrived in Bay City Saturday. Rosary was said at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home Sunday, at 7:30 p. m. by Father Martin.

The Daily Tribune, December 23, 1948
 

Mrs. Harry Culver dies suddenly at Wadsworth home

Mrs. Harry A. Culver of Wadsworth died suddenly today at her home.

Mrs. Culver was rushed to Matagorda General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. She suffered a heart attack.

Member of a pioneer Matagorda County family, her husband died several months ago.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Ludwig Zernicek, Wadsworth; and a son, Francis A. Culver, Van Nuys, Calif.

Rites are pending at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, Monday, July 31, 1961

 

Requiem mass for Mrs. Harry Culver set for Thursday

Requiem mass for Mrs. Frieda Johanna Culver, 69, will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wadsworth with the Rev. C. J. Martin officiating.

Mrs. Culver died suddenly Monday of a heart attack.
She had been a resident of the area more than 40 years. Her husband, Harry Culver, died about two months ago.

Mrs. Culver was a native Texan.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ludwig Zernicek, Wadsworth; a son, Francis Culver, Van Nuys, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Frank Sherrer, Bay City.

Rosary will be said Wednesday night.

The Daily Tribune, August 1, 1961
 

Requiem Mass Tuesday For Harry Culver

Rosary services tonight at 7 o'clock tonight at Taylor Brothers Funeral chapel for Harry A. Culver, well-known Matagorda county cattleman, will be followed by requiem mass at __ a.m. Tuesday at Wadsworth Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Culver, 70, died at his home in Wadsworth Saturday.

A native of Matagorda County, he had been engaged in ranching and farming all his adult life.

The Rev. C. J. Martin will officiate and burial will be in Matagorda Cemetery.

Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Ludwig J. Zernicek, Wadsworth; a son, Francis A. Culver, van Nuys, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Willie Doss, Wadsworth; brothers, David S. Culver, Wadsworth; Walter E. Culver, Houston.

The Daily Tribune, March 27, 1961
 

Picture of Mr. Culver is from a Bay City High School annual and
courtesy of the Matagorda County Museum.

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
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