Bette Doolittle Culver's Obituary
Bette Doolittle Culver (89) of Austell, Ga., a musician and retired teacher, died Saturday, December 3.
Mrs. Culver was born in 1927 in Wheaton, Ill. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from DePauw University. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Mu Phi Epsilon and Phi Beta Kapa. She earned a master’s degree in arts in music in 1972.
Mrs. Culver taught piano for over 30 years, played piano recitals, performed on a radio program at station WDIG in Dothan, Ala., held organist/choir director positions at three churches and sang in several choirs. Mrs. Culver taught at Trinity School for four years and at Westminster Schools for 27 years, receiving a Distinguished Service Award before retiring in 1991.
The high point of Mrs. Culver’s musical career was singing for 24 years with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. She toured Europe with the group in 1988.
She was active and served in leadership positions of several groups in the Georgia Tech Faculty Women and in PEO, a philanthropic educational organization.
A long-time member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Culver served as Circle leader and as Bible leader, serving on the board of the Women of the Church for several years. She sang in the Trinity Choir for over 30 years and served as assistant choir director/organist. She also played bells in Trinity’s Westminster Bell Ringers.
Mrs. Culver and her husband, John, lived at Presbyterian Village in Austell, Ga., where she was active in the village’s activities, serving as chairman of the Book Club, secretary of the Town Council and playing the piano as a soloist or in playing duets with others and assisting in sing-alongs in the community.
Mrs. Culver is survived by her husband of more than 70 years, John; sons Pete and wife Kathryn; Kevin and wife Kristin; David and wife Judith; and daughter Meredith Burris; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Adele D. McKee Music Fund, c/o Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3003 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, Ga. 30327.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to be held Wednesday, December 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Dobbs Chapel at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
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