Ltc Harry J. Culbert Usa (Ret)

LTC Harry J. Culbert USA (RET)

January 11, 1941—December 5, 2021

Harry passed away peacefully Sunday, December 5th, at home with his family and caregiver as he requested.

Harry was born in Ely, Nevada and moved with his family to Reno in 1945. He attended Mt. Rose Elementary School, Billinghurst Middle School, and Reno High School graduating in 1959. He then attended the University of Nevada and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and studied history and ROTC courses.

Leaving the university in 1964, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and sent to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was in Korea on the DMZ for 15 months. This tour was followed by an assignment as Company Commander at Fort Carson, Colorado for two years and then back to special training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1967. This training led to an assignment as a Battalion Senior Advisor with the Vietnamese Army. During this assignment he was awarded a number of decorations including a Purple Heart during combat operations. In 1969 Harry returned to Fort Benning for the Infantry Advanced Course. It was during the next two years that he met and married Mary K of St. Louis, Missouri, returned to the university to complete his degree, and became a proud father.

Between 1971 and 1972 Harry was called to service again, in Vietnam, with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and then transferred to an aviation group. From 1972 to 1976 he served with a Department of the Army Test Activity at Fort Hood, Texas. Married and father of two sons, he returned to Reno and civilian life. He spent the next 16 years as an Army reservist with assignments primarily in California. As the boys grew Harry coached soccer teams for 7 years and then enthusiastically sat on the bench for skiing, basketball, competitive swimming, and football games. He was also financial advisor for their fraternity, Delta Chi, during their college years.

Harry returned the University of Nevada for a degree in accounting and went to work for Sierra Pacific Power Company. He retired from the military in 1993 with 28 years of service and retired from Sierra Pacific in 2000. He went on to do seasonal tax work at H&R Block, and had a 19 year volunteer commitment to the Truckee Meadows Water Authority Advisory Committee. He also joined and supported the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10053 Verdi and The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989 Reno.

Harry and Mary K traveled Nevada, the United States and parts of Europe. Harry enjoyed gardening and rooting for UNR at basketball and football games. He was always looking for fishing or hunting opportunities wherever he went, hoping for directions to the perfect fishing hole or active hunting location.

Harry was preceded in death by his father J. Emmet, his mother Elsie, and his brother Jon. Harry is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary K, his sons Paul and Jayson and their wives Karlene and Lindsay, and his much-loved grandchildren Emma, Paul and Nick who he frequently bragged about regarding their many achievements.

A Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Our Lady of Snows Catholic Church, 1138 Wright Street, Reno with reception following at the Parish Center located at 1200 S. Arlington Avenue, Reno.

Harry's family would like to thank all of our family, friends and caregivers who tirelessly offered prayers, support, compassion, and care during his final year on earth.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Crisis Support Services of Nevada (http://cssnv.org/donate/) or The Diocese of Reno, 290 South Arlington Ave. Suite 200 Reno, NV 89501. Attention: Sunday TV Mass Donation.