Furman Rudolph Cullum Obituary

Furman Rudolph Cullum

Charleston - Furman Rudolph Cullum, Jr., age 88, of Charleston, SC, husband of Nancy Reed Cullum, passed away on March 26, 2026. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will truly be missed.

Furman is preceded in death by his prior wife of 59 years, Ann Willis Cullum, mother of their three sons, and by their middle son, Thomas Wells Cullum.

Furman was born in Greenwood, SC, on December 19, 1937, only child of the late Furman Rudolph Cullum and the late Louise Wells Cullum. Furman graduated from Greenwood High School and completed his Mechanical Engineering Degree in the class of 1959 at Clemson. Upon graduating, he was awarded a commission in the US Army to serve as an officer through the ROTC program and directed to report for duty at Ft. Sill, OK, where he reported as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Training Battalion. After his promotion to First Lieutenant, he was assigned as a Company Commander, commanding 350 Non-Commissioned Officers and advanced individual trainees. After serving his two years active-duty obligation, he returned home to Greenwood and completed his eight-year obligation in the Army Reserves where he reached the rank of Captain.

Through the ROTC program at Clemson, Furman received his private pilot license and later completed ratings for instrument and multi-engine flying which enabled him to enjoy flying his own aircraft.

After two years as a plant engineer with Greenwood Mills, the family moved to Greenville, SC, to be employed by Davis Mechanical Contractors as a Project Manager on HVAC projects throughout the Southeastern US. After two years there, he was lured to Charleston to manage F. A. Bailey and Sons, Inc. After six years there, he made the decision to start his own operation, and Cullum Mechanical Construction, Inc. was opened. Cullum Mechanical completed many of the major projects in the Charleston area and the state of South Carolina as well as completing projects as far North as New Jersey and Pennsylvania and West in Mississippi and South in the US Virgin Islands.

Furman was honored to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the company in 2022. The company is now owned and managed by his sons, Furman Rudolph Cullum, III (Rudy) and Richard Christopher Cullum (Chris).

Furman was past President of the Mechanical Contractors of South Carolina where he was awarded an honorary Life Membership, the Charleston Contractors Association, a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, where he was Chairman of the Advisory Board, President and Life Member of the Charleston Chapter of ASHRAE, and past member of North Charleston Rotary and charter member of the Charleston Harbor Club. He was a licensed Professional Engineer by the State of South Carolina.

Furman was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed the outdoor sports his entire life. He first learned of these adventures with his Dad, and was taught to respect the outdoors and the game. He grew up fishing on Lake Greenwood from a lake cottage owned by his parents and hunting the woods of his Grandfather's farm. After moving to Charleston, he became a regular Governor's Cup Offshore Fishing Tournament participant, capturing prize-winning blue marlin, sailfish and other species on his 42 foot Bertram, Diamond II. Furman and Nancy enjoyed many annual trips to Abaco, Bahamas on their 44 foot SeaRay, JustaVacation where they were members of the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club. They were also members of the Edisto Island Yacht Club.

He and Nancy, not a hunter, but a hunting spotter and fishing companion, have visited and hunted and/or fished all six of the seven land-mass continents. In 2023, they cruised to Antarctica to complete all seven continents.

Furman was a collector of antique and classic cars, winning trophies in many local and nearby car shows.

Furman is survived by his wife, Nancy; his two sons, F. Rudolph Cullum III (Robbin) and R. Christopher Cullum (Tiffney); and six grandchildren, T. J. Cullum (Katie), Tancey Belken (Daniel), Lindsey, Katie, Caroline and Clara Cullum; also, step-son Louis L. Reed IV (Kathleen) and step-granddaughter Lily Reed, and one great grandson, Brantley.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, Charleston, SC 29406, or another charity of your choice.

Funeral service will be held in J. Henry Stuhr, West Ashley Chapel, on Wednesday. April 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM. Interment at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston. The family will receive friends and relatives at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM.

We invite you to share a memory and sign our guest book.