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Donna Frances Culton was born on Sep 10, 1954, to Edgar Joe and Adeline Braden Heintschel in Weimar, TX. She passed away peacefully at her home in Mentz on Aug 14, 2023, at the age of 68. Her family resided in Columbus which Donna attended and graduated from Columbus High School. She then attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated with a degree in elementary education. She was offered a position as the third-grade teacher at St. Anthony School in 1978. Mrs. Culton loved teaching at St. Anthony’s! However, she moved to the Hill Country 4 years later. She taught at Blanco ISD for several years until she was once again called back to Columbus. She taught third grade for a year at Columbus Elementary School. The Hill Country called her back again, where she married her husband David and taught again in Blanco ISD until 1995 when her greatest accomplishment occurred, the birth of her son, Garrett Braden Culton.
Her grandmother’s house in Mentz stood empty, and her husband wanted to move there. So, for the third time she moved back to Columbus. Twenty- one years later, she came back to St. Anthony School in the same room teaching the same grade that she started out in fresh from college. She moved to first grade two years later and she’s been at SAS since 1998.
Mrs. Culton is most remembered at St. Anthony School for her love of reading books to her students, blessing them upon entering her room, teaching them a wide variety of themes of information, and always loving them, even when reprimanding them. She loved spending time on her front porch and waving as her neighbors drove by and honked. She loved spending weekend evenings eating and drinking a cold one with her Aunt Jolean. She loved the beach, always looking forward to summer breaks to make time for the sun and the sand. If she couldn’t make it to the beach, she had her own beach in her backyard, where she would prop up her feet in her aboveground pool and pretend she was near the waves. She crocheted who knows how many blankets for so many past students and their children. She loved her cat Lucy, even though most people never saw her! And she loved spending time with Garrett on their land, checking on the cows, and making their house the place where they loved spending time together.
Donna was a Catholic Daughter and very involved as a member of St. Roch Parish through the years. She always had a smile on her face, bringing joy to everything she did.
Donna is survived by her son Garrett; sister Diane Caddell; mother-in-law Irene Huntley; step-son Eric Culton (Amy); step-daughter Casey Seibert (Floyd); brothers-in-law Danny Culton (Elizabeth), Greg Culton (Rita), Rod Culton (Janice); and nieces, nephews and numerous step-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Anthony Heintschel, brother-inlaw William Caddell, and step-daughter Brett Culton.
Visitation was Thursday, Aug 17, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus. A parish prayer service and Catholic Daughter rosary followed at 7:00 PM.
Funeral service was Friday, Aug 18, 2023 at 3:00 PM at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus with Fr. James Dvorak officiating. Visitation at church was from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Burial was in St. Roch Catholic Cemetery in Mentz.
Pallbearers were Jacob Valenta, Eric Culton, Vincent Bujnoch, Larry Kunkel, Keith Huskey, and Paul Collins. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Evans, Greg Culton, Rod Culton and Danny Culton.
The family requests that donations be made to St. Anthony Catholic School Paving the Way Fund, 635 Bonham St., Columbus, TX 78934.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome. com.
Henneke Funeral Home Columbus, Texas
