Obituaries : Gordon A. Cullins; Santa Paula Barber

Gordon A. “Shorty” Cullins, a longtime Santa Paula resident and merchant, died Monday in Santa Paula after a brief illness. He was 93.

Cullins, who was born Sept. 22, 1902, moved from his native Goodland, Kan., to Ventura County in 1921.

He owned Palace Barber Shop in Santa Paula for 53 years, retiring in 1970. Cullins continued to cut hair on Fridays at the Twin Pines Health Care Convalescent Hospital until his death.

Cullins was feted by a brass band and residents and given a mayoral proclamation in 1962 on his 40th anniversary as a Main Street merchant, said his grandson, Gary Cullins.

“He was one of the town’s longest merchants on Main Street,” his grandson said. “When he was in business, he was very active on Main Street and he has maintained a closeness with many old-timers in town.”

He was a member of the Fillmore / Santa Paula Lodge No. 291 F&AM; for 50 years, receiving his 50-year pin in 1987 and being given the Hiram award for outstanding service to the lodge in 1988. He was a charter member of Scottish Rite Bodies of Ventura County and Al Malaikah Shrine of Los Angeles.

He also was a member of the Santa Paula Chapter No. 185 Order of the Eastern Star and the Fillmore / Santa Paula Shrine Club.

“He was very, very active in the support of the Masonic lodge and helped serve meals for lodge functions,” Gary Cullins said. “He did anything he could do. He was Johnny-on-the-spot and that’s why he was awarded the Hiram award.”

Cullins is survived by his son, Wesley F. Cullins of Ventura; his sisters, Helen Hevner of Goodland, Kan., and Dorothy Richardson of Des Moines, Iowa; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. today at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Santa Paula Cemetery. The Fillmore / Santa Paula Lodge No. 291 F&AM; will officiate.