Leslie Culver

August 23, 1920 - November 15, 2024

Obituary

August 23, 2020 – November 15, 2024

8/23/1920 Les was born in Weogufka, Alabama, Father Andrew Franklin Culver born in 1873, died in 1948 at age 75 Mother Almeda Robertson Culver born in 1882, died in 1979 at age 97 Sister Elsie Louise Culver McConatha born 2/25/24, died in 2003. In addition, Les had 2 half-brothers & 3 half-sisters on his dad’s side.

Jan. 1940 At age 19, Les joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Alabama. Six months later in the summer of 1940, he voluntarily relocated to the CCC’s operations in Idaho. It was there where he received his early training in auto mechanics under the tutelage of the shop foreman in the CCC’s main garage in Boise.

Aug. 1941 Les’ work with the CCC in Boise ended and he moved to Seattle on his 21^st birthday (8/23/1941) to accept a job with Boeing to work on the B-17 bomber. Boeing had recruited CCC workers when Les was in Boise, and he applied for the job at that time. Les was unhappy at Boeing and stayed there only one year…. choosing instead to enlist in the U.S. Army even though Boeing had offered him a military deferment.

Late 1941 Shortly after arriving in Seattle, Les met Evelyn Downey who was living in the same boarding house as he was. Evelyn was married at the time; however, she was separated, and her husband was living in Alaska. She subsequently got a divorce. Les and Evelyn married on May 19, 1944. Les was 23 when he got married & Evelyn was 30 (seven years older).

Oct. 1942 Les enlisted in the U.S. Army. Upon enlistment, he was sent to Aberdeen, MD, where he received basic training (35 days) and advanced training to learn to repair drive assemblies of the M1 Tank. Subsequently, he was stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana

May 1944 Les married Evelyn Downey in Shreveport, LA, on May 19, 1944, while on a 3-day pass from the Army. Upon learning that he had married, his Commanding Officer gave him an additional 10 days off (furlough). Les & Evelyn honeymooned at a nearby tourist cabin. Evelyn had intended to remain in Louisiana until Les’ discharge; however, due to the insufferable heat, she returned to Seattle one month after their marriage and waited for Les there.

June 1945 Les was transferred by the Army from Fort Polk to Okinawa. He arrived by troop ship in Okinawa in August 1945 after 48 days at sea (delays caused by having to wait for convoys due to the war). Les learned about the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima, Japan (August 6, 1945) while on the troop ship in route to Okinawa.

Feb. 1946 Les was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Lewis, WA, after serving 3-1/2 years.

April 1946 Les’ first civilian job was with the Army Motor Pool in Seattle (6^th and Bell), where he was promoted to foreman one week after beginning work. He became a journeyman mechanic during the next three months, after which he left the Motor Pool to accept a job at Anderson Buick in Seattle in July 1946.

1946 Evelyn lost twin fetuses during her first trimester of pregnancy.

March 1947 Les began what would become a 31-year career with Seattle’s Engineering Department in Seattle. He always said he enjoyed his work and was always “eager to go to work and felt accomplishment at the end of each workday.”

1951 Les and Evelyn built their first and only home in the Rainier Beach area of south Seattle, where he lived until he sold it in August 2012 (61 years later).

1963 At age 43, Les bought a1930 Nash Ambassador four-door sedan, Model 497, in West Seattle from a high school boy for $300.00. Even though the car had been stored “on the street”; Les said it looked decent and was “complete” except that the engine was “out of the car”. The boy’s intention was to build a hot rod out of it, which his parents objected to. They wanted him to keep it original. Les had the Nash towed home, and he returned later to pick up the engine using a city vehicle.

1965 Les began restoring the Nash. Wood sills replaced. Doors had good wood. Upholstery was done in Portland. The paint and plating were done in Seattle. Les restored all the mechanical parts himself, including engine, brakes, transmission, rear end. He said he even poured the babbit himself while restoring the engine.

1975 Les completed restoring his 1930 Nash (10-year project) and subsequently drove it with Evelyn and her sister to a national Nash Car Club of America meet in northern CA. The car ran flawlessly.

Feb. 1978 Les retired from Seattle’s Engineering Department as a supervisor (age 57).

1980 Les went back to work for the Seattle Blood Bank, where he was responsible for overseeing the maintenance of all of their vehicles…. a job he enjoyed immensely.

1985 Les begins assisting John Koziol with the mechanical restoration of his 1927 Nash Advanced Six Sport Touring.

1985 Les retired from the Seattle Blood Bank

April 1987 Les learned he has prostate cancer and had a successful radical prostatectomy.

1992 Les and John completed the restoration of John’s 1927 Nash Advanced Six Sport Touring.

July 11, 2011 Evelyn Culver died at age 97 in Seattle.

June 2012 Les moved to The Lakeshore Retirement Community – Seattle

August 2012 Les sold his only home of 61 years in Seattle, WA.

Aug 23, 2020 Les celebrated his 100^th birthday .. amid the COVID-19 virus lockdown at The Lakeshore. In Les’ honor, the SeaTac HCCA did a drive-by outside The Lakeshore with about 15 antique cars.

Mar 15, 2023 Les moved to Magnolia Senior Care (a wonderful group home in Burien, WA)

Nov. 15, 2024 Les died peacefully at age 104 at St. Anne’s Hospital, Burien, WA, from complications of pneumonia and congestive heart failure.