Robert Culbertson Jr., was born and reared in Rockford, Illinois on May 10, 1945, to Elna Marie Fransen and Robert Culbertson Senior.   He passed from this life on January 09, 2025 at Baylor St. Luke's Hospital with family and friends at his bedside. Although he was only 79 years old at the time of his passing, Robert left a legacy of teaching, performance, and service to his community which will always be remembered by all who were privileged to know him.
Upon graduation from Rockford High School, Robert attended  the University of Tennessee, on a track scholarship; however, his true love of "music" led him to  pursue several degress in the field of music performance as well as teaching. He graduated  from Northern Illinois University, in Dekalb, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees and later, obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Univerity of Texas in Austin, Texas. Always an ardant supporter of  his country, he was extremely proud of his military service in the United States Air Force where he performed  with the 5th Air Force H.Q.B. in Japan from 1968-1972. His love of music led him to  accept  a teaching position at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, as a music professor where he taught and performed in many ensembles and orchestras throughout Southeast Texas for 46 years and served as Department Chair twice.  After his retirement from Lamar University, he  was awarded "Proferssor Emeritus". His love of teaching would not keep him away from the classroom, so he became an "adjunct instructor" at Lamar Institute of Technology, in the field of humanities and arts from 2020 to the present and he dearly loved the faculty, staff, and all of the students whom he had the privilege to instruct.
Known by his students as "Doc", Uncle Bob, and Dr. Culbertson, he received many messages of support from his students, former colleagues, and friends during his stay at St. Luke's. Bob especially  appreciated the many kind words of support from all mentioned above, and one can only draw the "mental portrait"as a man of great courage in the face of the illness which took his life. As a teacher, he was  a mentor to thousands of students taught over his extraordinary career in music as a performer and instructor. As a person, he was a humble, kind, and very humorous, and his students always remember the  professor with a smile, who made their academic participation, in the classroom, enjoyable as well  as instructive. Bob's hobbies included: sketching, painting with water colors, and visiting the many museums in Southeast Texas.
Those left to cherish the memories of this incredible man  are: Patricia Ann Culbertson, his wife of 55 years, his devoted daughter, Heather Ann Schneider (who stayed with her Dad tirelessly and held him in her arms until he passed ), his much-loved and adored grandchildren:  Madeleine Ahmadi, Ava Ahmadi, and  Aaron James Schneider, as well as his sibling, Stephen Culbertson (wife…Carol Culbertson), Sisters-in-law: Linda Reyes, Mary Stein,  and Loretta Hollings and  many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elna Marie Fransen and Robert Culbertson Senior from Rockford, Illinois.
The memorial service for Robert Culbertson Jr. will be held at:  "Stones Crying Out", 8001 Old Voth Rd, Beaumont, TX 77708, whose building is being generously donated for this service by Katha Nelson. The memorial service will be February 8, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Condolences to the family may be made online at www.kleinfh.com