Services will be held on October 21 for Glennon Culwell, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on September 25 in Scotts Valley. He was 91 years old.
Culwell was born in a small farm house on the plains of west Texas on August 26, 1926. During his childhood years he helped his family work a cotton and dairy farm. In 1944, at the age of 17 but claiming he was a year older, he enlisted in the Army and served briefly on the Philippine island of Luzon in the last days of World War II. He later graduated from Chico State College and Southwest Baptist Seminary. He met his beloved wife, Jeannie, when she was caring for his mother at Cook Memorial Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. They were married for 53 years until her death in 2007.
Culwell moved his wife and two daughters to Scotts Valley in 1958 when he became the pastor of Valley Baptist Church, which is now known as Gateway Bible Church. He pastored the church for 28 years, during which time he led in the founding of Baymonte Christian School in 1968.
Culwell retired from his full time ministry at the church in 1986, but continued to actively minister throughout northern California as an interim/transitional pastor with, what is now known as, Next Generation churches. During that same time, he served on the Scotts Valley City Council from 1987 to 1991. He served as the city’s mayor his final two years on the council.
He is survived by his five children, Shirley Bramer of Auburn, Janet Culwell of Scotts Valley, Christian Culwell of Santa Maria, Andrew Culwell of Napa and Stephen Duncan of Boulder Creek; foster children David Newton of Ontario, Lisa Bauer of Ben Lomond, Daniel Newton of Illinois and Michael Williams of Oregon. He also leaves his brother Bob Culwell of Texas, seven grandchilden and four great grandchildren.
A memorial celebration will be held on October 21 at Gateway Bible Church, 5000 Granite Creek Road, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Any kind acts of charity may be made in Culwell’s memory to Baymonte Christian School, c/o Gateway Bible Church.
