Obituary of Charles F. McCullough Jr.

On January 16, 2019 Charles F. McCullough Jr. was called to the next life. Charles was preceded in death by his parents Charles F. McCullough Sr., Stephanie (Fannie) McCullough and his brother Bernard (Barney) McCullough. Charles is survived by his brother and business partner, James E. McCullough, sisters Tillie McCullough, Alberta Donahue (Dr. Michael Donahue), Anne Marie Griffin (Dr. Frank Griffin), sister-in-law Eileen McCullough, thirteen nieces and nephews, along with forth eight grandnieces and grandnephews.

 

Charles attended and graduated from local schools, served in the Army and then graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After graduation in 1951, Charles returned home to the family ranch in the Panoche Valley of Southern San Benito County to start his lifelong diverse career in Agriculture. Throughout his life Charles loved the outdoors. As a young man, he loved to hunt but as he grew older and as the deer herd declined due to Fish and Games refusal to implement a predator management program, he put up his guns and was appointed to and served on the County Fish and Game Committee for twenty-five years, trying to implement change within Fish and Game. Charles’s other contribution to the community had him elected to the Panoche School Board which he served on for twenty-five years; San Benito County ASC Committee for ten years; Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee (Williamson Act) for eight years; and appointed to the Bureau of Land Management Advisory Committee for the Bakersfield region which encompassed thirty-five counties within the State serving for three years.

 

In 1984, Charles received an Award of Merit for outstanding accomplishments in resource conservation from the San Benito County RCD. Then in 1997, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation in honor of being an exemplary member of the community from the State Assembly for the 28^th District.

 

Charles’s private life exceeded the successes of this public life. At age thirteen, upon the death of his father, he assumed the role of patriarch of his family. He assisted his mother in financial and personal decision making for her and his five siblings. Charles was a selfless man of integrity, courage, generosity and hard work. He loved ranching and was happiest working the land. His goals were to have a successful working ranch and to always serve the best interests of his family, which he did.

 

Services will be private for family per Charles’s wishes. Donations in his name can be made to Sacred Heart Parish School.