Rev. John B. McCullough

AIKEN - Reverend John B. McCullough was born in Columbia, SC on March 6, 1917. His parents were the late Reverend Doctor Henry Antine McCullough and Lily Blackwelder McCullough. John was the youngest of seven children: Mrs. W.L. (Hazel) Haltiwanger; Mrs. A.T (Sarah) Brown; Mrs. Wm. B. (Miriam) Gouger; Mrs. Calvin (Bunchie) Whittle; and two brothers who were also Lutheran ministers, the Rev. Paul G. McCullough, and the Rev. H.A. McCullough, Jr. Having attended Columbia city schools, Rev. McCullough graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1939 with a double major in English and Latin. He received an MDiv degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC in 1942 and later attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He received an MA degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City in 1946. Rev. McCullough’s first pastorate was St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aiken from 1942-1943. He then joined the Naval Reserve as Chaplain and was commissioned Lieutenant (jg) in May 1943. He attended Naval Training School (Chaplains) At William and Mary College and then saw active duty during World War II both ashore and afloat in all three theaters of the War. After being released from active duty in 1946, Rev. McCullough continued to serve as a Chaplain in the Naval Reserve until his retirement in 1971 with twenty-eight years of naval service. During that time, he served as Chaplain of the Naval Training Center in Augusta, Georgia (1956 -1971) and as Auxiliary Chaplain at Aiken Air Force Station ((1969-1975). After the War, Rev. McCullough was the pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Chattanooga, Tennessee from 1947 to 1948. He then received a call to return to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aiken, where he remained from December, 1948 until his retirement in May of 1979. He was a member of various ministers’ associations and served on numerous committees of the South Carolina Lutheran Synod. Rev. McCullough always remarked that he would not live anywhere but Aiken, and he took a leadership role in his beloved community. He was a longtime member of the Aiken Rotary Club and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary in placing service above self. He served as PTA president and on the board of the Aiken Community Chest. Rev. McCullough was a five gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross Blood Program. Throughout the years, many in the community knew him as “Padre,” for the personalized license tag which he adopted in 1975. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Reverend Bob Byrne and D.M. Beth Barkhau will officiate. Interment will follow in Historic Bethany Cemetery. Pallbearers will be members of the Church Council of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Rev. McCullough loved and was loved by many people, and the family wishes it could thank each and every one of them individually. Some special acknowledgements include: all past and present members of St. Paul Lutheran Church; Rev. McCullough’s special friends from St. Paul; friends in the Columbia area with whom he grew up and went to school; those with whom he served in the Navy, especially aboard the USS Albemarle; the Aiken Rotary Club; friends from numerous Aiken establishments with whom he did business for more than sixty years; the Waffle House staff and Saturday morning coffee group; the caring staff at Eden Gardens; Pat Bishop and Regency Hospice; and friends and neighbors from Ray Walker Estates. Rev. McCullough was preceded in death by his wife, the former Linwold Kibler of Aiken, to whom he was married from 1946 until her death in 2006. He is survived by one daughter, Lily Grace McCullough Baumil of Aiken, and a son, John Kibler McCullough, also of Aiken. Grandchildren include Emily Baumil Gibbs (Eric) of Aiken, Scott Baumil of Charleston, John K.(Spud) McCullough, Jr. of Aiken, and great-grandchild John Alan Baumil of Aiken. Memorials may be directed St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road, Aiken, SC 29803. Please visit www.shellhousefuneralhome.com to view and sign Rev. McCullough’s online guest book. The family will receive friends from 4-6 PM Sunday at Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. John B. McCullough, please visit our flower store.