Everyone's favorite jokester, Bobby, was born Robert Lewis Culp on December 21, 1951, to Milo and Anna (Gerl) Culp. He grew up the second of four children - following his oldest sister Joyce, and later being joined by his little brother Bill and his little sister Anne.
Bobby graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School a local celebrity, beloved for his athleticism in both football and baseball. His reputation on the field left a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed it. At a recent dedication ceremony for Coach Dorsey, the coach recognized Bobby instantly and recalled with a grin, "You didn't run around the opponent - you ran through them!” That same tenacity earned Bobby a football scholarship to Eastern Illinois University.
But Bobby had a different dream calling his name: he wanted to be a cowboy. So he packed up and headed west, landing in Oklahoma. There he met his first wife, Tish Dinsmore, and together they had two daughters- Amy and Ashley. He ensured their childhood included having cowboy boots on, country music playing, riding horses and cruising the back roads in his pickup truck. In time, Bobby purchased a stretch of acreage outside Chandler, Oklahoma, where he kept dogs and horses and lived the life he had always imagined. He spent some time restoring old, run-down greenhouses on the property and in doing so, uncovered a remarkable green thumb. What started as a personal project grew into a thriving greenhouse business that became a staple of the community. His plants can still be found growing throughout the area today.
No one could argue that Bob wasn’t lucky- and 1992 proved it beyond any doubt. On a whim, he dropped his name into a hopper for a chance to win a new barbecue grill. Sure enough, he won! But the grill turned out to be the least of it. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, the prize also included an all-expenses-paid trip to Barcelona, where Bobby was selected as one of only 30 Americans chosen to carry the Olympic Torch in the 1992 Summer Olympics. He made headlines around the world. It was the kind of story that sounds too good to be true… and yet, with Bobby, it always was.
In 2010, the universe had a new set of plans for him. The passing of his brother Billy brought him back home to Wood River. A gentle nudge from a friend led him to look up his old high school flame, Linda Johnson, that she might need a little help keeping up her river cabin. As it turned out, the love Bobby and Linda had shared back in 1975 was still there - and he never called Oklahoma home again.
With the true love of his life by his side, Bobby spent the last fifteen years along the Piasa Creek, and they were among the best of his life. Mornings on the back deck surrounded by hummingbirds, afternoons at their beloved Boat Club with their many, many friends - Bobby and Linda built a world full of warmth, laughter, and community. They even expanded their family, adopting a spirited Doodle named Bella, who lit up their home from the moment she arrived. Through every health scare and hard stretch, Linda was unwavering by his side, nursing him back to health and rallying those around them when he needed it most. Because of her love, and the life they built together, Bobby had truly grown into the best version of himself, and he was flourishing.
Bobby passed away on April 6, 2026, leaving behind a world that is quieter - and a little less funny - without him. He had a gift for walking into any room and walking out with a new friend, and that gift touched more lives than he ever knew. We hope those who loved him will find their own ways to keep him close: ride a horse, drop a line in a creek, tend something that grows, or raise a cold one at the Boat Club in his honor.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Milo and Anna Culp, and his brother Billy.
His spirit, his laughter, and his legendary zest for life will live on in all who were lucky enough to know him — and most especially in those he loved most: his beloved Linda; his daughters, Amy Banu and Ashley Goelz and her husband JB; his sister Joyce Hatcher, and her daughter Nikki; his sister Anne Sabo and her husband Mark, along with their children Haili, Gwen and Ethan; and several cherished great-nieces and nephews. And of course, his faithful companion, Bella.
He will forever be in our hearts.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Wood River Moose Lodge, 730 Wesley Dr., Wood River, IL 62095.