STERLING – Gerald L. Cullop, 78, died March 3, 2012, at his residence in Sterling. He was born April 11, 1933, in Manchester, Okla., the son of Bert McKinley and Josephine Rachel Young Cullop.
A Sterling resident since 1961, formerly of Moline, Kan., he graduated from Anthony High School, Southwestern College, Winfield with a Bachelor’s Degree and the Western State of Gunnison, Colo. with a Master’s Degree in Education. He was an English teacher and coach in Moline and Sterling, retiring in 1993. He was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran, serving during the Korean War.

He married Carolyn Grace Fulton May 28, 1956, in Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. Survivors include: his wife, Carolyn of the home; son, Jerry and Kelly Cullop of Sterling; daughter, Sally Peterson of Manhattan; three sisters, Maxine Robertson of Oxford, Kan., Florence McKee of Talala, Okla., Virginia Bradley of Anthony, Kan.; five grandchildren, Kelsey Peterson, Maret (Clayton) Schrader, Janna (Matt) Splitter, Jacey Cullop, Jared Cullop; and his first great-grandchild due in June. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ernest Cullop.

Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at United Methodist Church, Sterling, with Reverend Marvin Ewertt, officiating. Burial in Sterling Community Cemetery, with Military Honors conducted by the U.S. Marine Corp. Visitation 2 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorials to Veteran’s Memorial Project for Sterling Lake, in care of the funeral home.