Marvin W. Culpepper, 96, of Charleston departed this life Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at home.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Charles Ross Culpepper, Dr. Olive O’Dell Culpepper and his wife of 72 years, Carmen Elaine Culpepper.
Marvin graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School and then graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in Psychology and later Marchall University with a degree in History. While attending Wesleyan, he was active in Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Marvin was a teacher in Kanawha County Schools for thirty-three years teaching at Nitro High School, Stonewall Jackson High School and Charleston High School.
Marvin served thirty-three years in the U.S. Army and The West Virginia National Guard, retiring as a Brevet Brigadier General.
Marvin was very active with his beloved alma mater West Virginia Wesleyan. He was awarded the Wesleyan Alumni Award in 2002, inducted into the West Virginia Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and received the Honorary Degree Doctor of Humane Letters in 2006. Marvin and his parents, Ross and Olive, started and maintained eleven scholarships for West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Through his years at Wesleyan and Buckhannon, Marvin has been a patron of the Upshur County Humane Association, the Upshur County Library and the Buckhannon High School Football Stadium.
Marvin is survived by his daughter, Alice Moore of Charleston; sons Charles W. (Patricia) of Charleston, James M. (Kimberly) of Pittsburgh, and John B. (Lisa) of Altadena, CA. Marvin and Elaine were blessed with eleven grandchildren, Jacob Ong, Leah Bruno, Lane Asseff (Waseem), Peter, Matthew, and Eric Culpepper, Adam Culpepper (Emily), Erin Sabatini (Michael), Owen Culpepper (Lauren), Christopher Moore, and William Culpepper (Jennifer). They had twelve great grandchildren: John, Ian, and Lilith Ong, Nora Ong, Connor and Vera Culpepper, Roman, Elliana and Leo Sabatini, Alexandria Moore, and Brandon and Tori Culpepper.
Marvin was a lifelong Methodist and was a member of Christ Church United Methodist.
Service date and times are pending and will be announced shortly…
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marvin Culpepper History Scholarship, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 59 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201
Bollinger Funeral Home, 420 Lee Street, W., Charleston, WV 25302 has been entrusted with the arrangements.
