Paul Clayton Culver, 90

SALISBURY - Paul Clayton Culver, 90, died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, in Wicomico Nursing Home. Prior to that, he was a resident at Atria for three years.

Born March 28, 1917, in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Paul Jackson Culver and Carrie Strong Culver. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Moreland Culver, and a sister, Katheryn Culver Townsend.

Upon graduation from Wicomico High School in 1934, he went to work for Johnson Glass Company, installing glass at businesses in Maryland and Virginia. During World War II, he worked for Martin & Schwartz and Precision Development Company, which later became Dresser, where he designed and made models of machine parts. In his spare time, he did wood carvings and also did pattern work on machete handles for Charles Briddell Inc. In 1946, he gave a letter opener he had made to Charles Briddell. This became the first Carvel Hall Cutlery steak knife. He went on to design all of the Carvel Hall Cutlery until the company was sold to Towle Company.

Dresser then contracted Mr. Culver to make models of the newest gas pumps. He did all of the work in his machine shop. He retired from that in 1989, but continued with his woodwork until a fall in November 2004.

When Mr. Culver built his colonial home in 1955 on Quantico Road, now Nanticoke Road, he furnished it with reproductions of 18th-century furniture, all made by him.

Mr. Culver is survived by his stepson, Richard Moreland of Frederick, Md.; two sisters, Margaret (Peggy) Culver Boyce of Cranston, R.I., and Lois Ann Culver Bradley and her husband, Donald M. Bradley of Salisbury, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He donated his body to the Anatomy Board of Maryland. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in Trinity United Methodist Church in Salisbury. The Rev. William Kniceley will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Congregational Care, Trinity United Methodist Church, 112 High St., Salisbury, Md. 21801.