Charles J. Culver was born on October 29, 1923, in Henderson County, Kentucky. He was the son of Leslie Bernard Culver and Jessie Gertrude Hancock Culver. He was the husband of Delores Gibson Culver.

Charles served in the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Right Waist Gunner on the B-17 #42-31097 'Mission Belle' during World War II. He was one of the survivors of their December 1, 1943 mission over Leverkusen, Germany, when their aircraft was hit by flak and attacked by enemy fighters. The airplane was severely damaged, so the crew decided to ditch the airplane in the River Lek between Streefkerk and Nieuw-Lekkerland, Netherlands. During the enemy attack, one member was Killed in Action while two other members drowned in the river. The surviving members were taken as POWs. Sgt Culver was sent to Stalag Luft III and Stalag XIII-D.