Roy F. Culbertson II

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He played original songs for his students, tutored, coached, led the Math Club and found unique ways to make learning memorable.

Our beloved Time Traveler, Roy F. Culbertson II, affectionately known as Roscoe, passed away at home on November 4, 2026, at the age of 80.

Born on September 4, 1946, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Roscoe grew up in Belleville’s Oak Knoll neighborhood, where he walked to Blessed Sacrament School and spent endless hours wandering the nearby woods with his cherished older sisters, building forts, creating campsites and imagining themselves as great explorers.

His young, boundless curiosity and adventurous spirit found a second home along the banks of the Big Piney River in southern Missouri. Built by his grandfather, Dr. Ora J. Culbertson, alongside other families, Piney Lodge became a treasured family gathering place. Over the decades, Roscoe introduced many friends and families to the magic of Piney Lodge, sharing his love of nature, river floats, rope swings, catching crawdads, mountain climbing, whiffle ball, target practice with beer cans and hundreds of campfires filled with stories, laughter and song.

Roscoe’s love of sports first took root at Blessed Sacrament, where he discovered a passion for baseball and football that continued through his years at Belleville Township High School, where he graduated in 1964. A formidable left-handed slugger, he lettered in both sports and went on to play American Legion baseball, with his parents and sisters faithfully following his games throughout the area.

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Roscoe's songs remain a lasting expression of his creativity, humor, curiosity and deeply thoughtful spirit.

From a young age, Roscoe was a free-spirited wild man, known for sneaking out and borrowing his parents’ car without permission. That same curiosity and adventurous spirit eventually found another outlet in music. While hospitalized as a teenager, he taught himself to play guitar and later performed in a high school trio, The Legendaires, marking the beginning of a lifelong love of music.

After graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in Education, Roscoe followed his passion for music and moved to New York. In 1972, he joined The New Christy Minstrels, touring and singing along the East Coast. He lived in Boston before eventually landing in Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent several years performing at Opryland.

Beginning his teaching career at Dupont Junior High School in Nashville, Roscoe was a math and computer teacher, Beta Club sponsor, and football coach. During this time he met his future wife, Connie Lewis. Two years later, they married and began raising a family. Roscoe continued his teaching career in computer science at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School. As their family grew, they built a life filled with the adventures and ordinary joys of childhood: skinned knees, muddy backyards, honeysuckle, June bugs on strings, scouts, soccer games and all the wonderful chaos of raising three kids while remodeling a fixer-upper.

Although Nashville had become home, the pull of their Midwestern roots drew them back to Belleville. In 1990, they returned to Illinois where they enjoyed countless celebrations with their large and loving extended family. Roscoe’s sisters and their families brought everyone together for memorable Thanksgivings, Santa Parties, Christmas celebrations, and more, creating cherished (and often hilarious) traditions and lasting memories.

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He was truly one of a kind, unapologetically himself, and his influence will live on in the countless lives he touched.

Back in Belleville, Roscoe began his final teaching chapter at Signal Hill School, where he taught junior high math and coached basketball and soccer. A natural teacher with a wonderfully creative spirit, Roscoe brought his many passions and talents into the classroom. He played original songs for his students, tutored, coached, led the Math Club and found unique ways to make learning memorable. Perhaps most special was his tradition of writing an original song for each graduating class and performing it for them before they moved on to high school.

Roscoe also found his place in the greater Signal Hill community, where neighbors became lifelong friends. He was a member of the Macho Gardeners Club and helped bring the neighborhood together by hosting The Buckeye, an annual goofy whiffle ball golf tournament that stretched across five neighbors’ yards and culminated in chili, brats and homemade awards. The Culbertsons also organized barn dances and numerous trips to Piney Lodge for campouts, river floats and evenings around the campfire. During his daughter’s college years, Roscoe developed a lasting affection for the Ashland, Wisconsin area, the beautiful shores of Lake Superior, and the welcoming Northwoods community.

After retiring from teaching, Roscoe was drawn to Nashville once again to live and breathe the music he loved. He found belonging and a special kinship within Nashville’s singer-songwriter community, frequently performing at Bobby’s Idle Hour, The Millenium Maxwell House, and The Commodore Grille. Roscoe became a shining light in Nashville’s music community, sharing his original songs, generous spirit, unmistakable personality and humor with fellow musicians and audiences alike. He will be missed both onstage and off, at pickin’ parties and writers’ rounds.

Throughout his life, music was much more than a passion for Roscoe. It was how he explored life’s deepest questions, processed his emotions and expressed a personal side of himself that he courageously wove into the fabric of his songs. Songwriting and singing brought him comfort during life’s more difficult moments, gave voice to his innermost thoughts and feelings, and offered him a sense of peace right up until his last breath.

How fortunate we are to have had someone so wonderfully unique in our lives. Roscoe encouraged children and adults alike to question the world around them, think independently and lead with curiosity and authenticity. Roscoe was a muse to many, inspiring others through his own example to embrace their originality in a world that so often favors conformity. He was truly one of a kind, unapologetically himself, and his influence will live on in the countless lives he touched. His life was a real home run, and a song worth singing again and again.

Musical Achievements

Among Roscoe’s musical accomplishments was an ASCAP longevity award recognizing the country hit “We Got Love,” recorded by Lynn Anderson. He also won four consecutive years at the Walnut Valley Festival songwriting competition in Winfield, Kansas.

His musical legacy includes original recordings and albums, including Live: The Roscoe Beano Band, Time Traveler, Fried Chicken, and his final masterpiece, 2020 Underground. His songs remain a lasting expression of his creativity, humor, curiosity and deeply thoughtful spirit.

Family

Roscoe was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Roy F. Culbertson and Anastasia Culbertson, nee Doody.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Culbertson, nee Lewis; daughter, Julie Culbertson (Joseph Nichols); sons, Roy F. Culbertson III and Ryan “Rex” Culbertson (fiancée Nikki Carnarius); and his adored granddaughters, Hazel Hunt and Juniper Nichols.

He is also survived by his sisters, Nancy Eilermann (Bob) and Janet Lenz (Pat); nephew Mike Lenz (Beth); nephew and godson Rob Eilermann (Ann); niece Christy Eilermann; niece and goddaughter Jane Gaskill (Brian); his great-nieces and nephews; his great-great nieces and nephews, and his cousins.

Roscoe also leaves behind a large and loving extended Lewis family, with whom he shared a lifetime of treasured memories. Among them is his brother-in-law, Tim Lewis. Each served as best man at the other’s wedding.

Roscoe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, a cherished friend, a natural teacher, a fellow adventurer and a bandmate to many. His curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for life extended far beyond his family, enriching the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Celebration of Life

In keeping with Roscoe’s wishes, his body has been donated to medical science.

A celebration of Roscoe’s remarkable life will be held on 12/27/26 at 3pm, at SPACES, 207 E Main St, Belleville, IL 62220

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Roscoe’s memory are invited to contribute to the Roscoe Memorial Education Fund, established to support the education and bright futures of his beloved granddaughters.

Elegy tribute and donations site: https://elegy.us/tributes