Thomas Maxwell Culler

Thomas Maxwell Culler was born on March 29, 1937, to Carson and Annabelle (Maxwell) Culler.

Tom was a varsity basketball player and graduated from Hicksville High School in 1955, having been Senior Class President. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Toledo University in 1960.

He started his career at Fisher Body in Marion, then worked at First Federal Bank in Defiance, where he met his wife, Karen. Tom knew she was the one and wanted to get married that fall; Karen, however, was adamant that she was returning to college to finish her degree and did not accept his proposal until Christmas 1963.

They were married at Arthur (OH) Congregational Church on Aug. 8, 1964, and celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2014, before Karen’s passing in 2021.

Tom worked at Peoples Federal Savings & Loan, Indiana Insulated Wire/Lyall Electric, and the Auburn Foundry.

Shortly after moving to Auburn in 1966, Tom and Karen joined Auburn Presbyterian Church, where Tom served as an Elder.

He was a coach in the DeKalb Central Elementary Basketball League in the late 1970s.

Tom was the proud father of three Eagle Scouts and the grandfather of four more. He served on the troop committee for Boy Scout Troop 169 for several years, including serving as committee chairman.

Tom obtained his CB license in the mid-1970s and chose the handle “2-Dollar Bill”. He also earned his Amateur Radio License in the late 1970s, call sign WD9CVV. He was involved with the DeKalb County Civil Defense, including shuttling doctors, nurses and patients to DeKalb Memorial Hospital on a snowmobile during and following the Blizzard of ’78. He was active in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in the 1990s and 2000s, including being an operator of the educational boat “Coastie.”

Tom was raised a Master Mason in Hicksville Lodge #478 F&AM and served as Worshipful Master in the early 1960s. He was also a current or former member of Royal Arch Masons, Commandry, Knights Templar, Fort Wayne Scottish Rite and Mizpah Shrine. He accompanied thousands of children to the annual Shrine Circus over the years, then would later become a hospital driver taking hundreds of area children for treatment at the Shrine Hospitals in Chicago and Cincinnati. Tom and Karen joined Auburn Chapter #103 of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1973. They served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron together several times, the first being in 1977-78, and later serving as Worthy Patron with his daughter as Worthy Matron. He and Karen traveled representing Indiana, when Karen was the Grand Representative of the Idaho Grand Chapter in Indiana, from 1996-1998. At the time of his passing, he was a member of Prentiss (Albion) Chapter #178 and Bryan (OH) Chapter #248. His daughter was a member of Auburn Bethel #60 of the International Order of Job’s Daughters in her youth and Tom and Karen served on the Guardian Council during this time.

Tom is survived by four children, Jim and his wife Maureen, of Avilla, Diane and her husband Ted Custer, of Avilla, Jerry, of St Joe and John and his wife Lisa, of Auburn; three grandsons, JW Custer, Carson Culler and Alex Custer; four step-grandchildren, Eric Hollopeter, Kristin (Brad) King, Daniel Hollopeter and Maelee Kimmel; six step-great-grandchildren; four nieces; one nephew; six step-nieces; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded by his loving wife of 57 years, Karen; his parents, Carson and Annabelle Culler; his in-laws, Cecil and Wreatha Mansfield; his brothers, Grover (Pete) and Jerry; his sister, Barbara; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center St., Auburn, with visitation from 10-11 a.m., on Tuesday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Pastor Mark Goeglein will be officiating.

Burial will take place at Hicksville Union Cemetery (formerly Forrest Home Cemetery) in Hicksville, Ohio.

Visitation also will be from 3-7 p.m., on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the funeral home. A Masonic service will take place at 7 p.m., after visitation.

Memorials may be directed to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Make checks payable to Shriners Children’s, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

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