Joseph Warren Cullumber, a fifth generation resident of San Juan Bautista, died today at his home, two days following his 90th birthday.
Joe was the son of Joseph W. Cullumber, Sr. and Caroline Flint Cullumber. His maternal grandmother was Mary Katherine Breen, whose father, Simon, settled the San Juan Valley with his family following their heroic passage of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with the Donner Party in 1846. His maternal Great- Grandfather was Benjamin Flint, who with his brother, Dr. Thomas Flint and cousin Llewellyn Bixby, formed in Flint Bixby Company. The family home, Rancho San Justo, is the present day St. Francis Retreat.
Following his WWII service in the South Pacific with the Marine Corps Construction Battalion, Joe returned to San Juan where he joined his father and brothers in the construction business. In 1952 he bought out his father and formed Cullumber Construction, which he operated until his retirement in 1985.
Cullumber Construction built homes in Hollister and San Juan as well as well as several significant landmark buildings which included the Carmel Valley Post Office, two World Savings branch offices (Hollister and Capitola), Elementary Schools in Greenville and King City, and the National Guard Armory in Hollister. In the late 1970’s he was under contract with the Catholic Diocese to restore the Historic Mission at San Juan Bautista. In partnership with his good friend Jack Tipton, he developed many of the subdivisions surrounding the Hazel Hawkins Hospital. His last development, which he completed during his retirement, was the Mission Vista Community on the site of the old San Juan Grammar School.
Joe was an active member of his community and had a great passion for the history of San Benito County. He was most recently active with the San Juan Historical Society, acting as the President for many years. He served on the San Juan City Council, the San Juan Planning Commission and was a Trustee on the School Board. He was a past member of the Elks Club and the Hollister Rotary Club. Joe was a founding member of the Leslie L Garrett VFW Post (named for his late brother-in-law, the first soldier from San Juan killed in WWII) and remained active with the Post up to his death. During his career in home building he was an active member of the California Building Industry Association of Santa Clara County.
An avid golfer, Joe, and his late wife, Gladys, were members of the Salinas County Club and the Pine Mountain Golf Club. He spent much of his retirement years traveling the world and golfing, including St Andrews in Scotland. He and Gladys enjoyed the spring and fall in their Pine Mountain home, nestled in the low Sierra foothills outside of Groveland. From there he could visit his cousins in Angels Camp and continue his research of family history.
Historical research also took him back to the Flint family roots in Maine where he was able to certify his heritage back to the original members of the Mayflower when it landed in Plymouth in 1620. Joe was proud of his family history and their contributions to both California and San Juan Bautista history.
He is survived by his daughter, Karen Freels, of San Juan Bautista, and his son and daughter in law, Denis and Liz (Shockey) Cullumber, of St. Helena. Four Grandchildren: Scott Freels of San Juan, Shawn Pacheco of Hollister, Amy (Cullumber) Heer of Irvine, and Katherine (Cullumber) Meenk of Seattle WA. Five great-grandchildren: Zack and Zoe Pacheco, Emmet and Gabrielle Meek, and Bennett Heer. He is also survived by two sisters, Betty Hutchinson of San Juan, and Shirley Magini of Healdsburg, and by his sister-in-law, Stella Cullumber of San Juan.
Friends are invited to the graveside service on Friday, Sept 26th beginning at 1:00 P.M. at the San Juan District Cemetery, San Juan Bautista. Military honors will be provided by Hollister Post 9242 and the Leslie L. Garrett Post V.F.W. of San Juan Bautista. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the San Juan Historical Society or the San Juan V.F.W. Post. Donations can be sent to Grunnagle Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister 95023
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