Rodney Harold Cullen, 62, husband of Ann C. Cullen of Stuarts Draft, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Augusta Health in Fishersville, Virginia.

Rodney was born at Waynesboro Community Hospital on April 4, 1962, a son of the late Raymond Harold Cullen and Peggy Mawyer Cullen.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 39 years, are sons, Brooks J. Cullen of Stuarts Draft and Hunter W. Cullen of Eugene, Oregon; daughter, Lacey E. Cullen of Stuarts Draft and her partner Michael L. Wriston; one sister, Cindy Cullen Weaver and her husband, Mike R. Weaver of Waynesboro, and one brother-in-law, Joel Cartledge of Richmond and his wife, Tracie; one grandson, Braden Wriston, and one granddaughter, Meadow Ott; two nieces, Makenzie Weaver of Waynesboro and Holly Duley of Richmond and her husband, Austin; three nephews Kyle Weaver and wife, Sierra, Brandon Weaver and wife, Calla, and Gavin Cartledge and his wife, Janet; four great-nieces Alana Weaver, Aubrey Womack, Charlotte Jane Duley, and Caroline Cartledge. He will also be missed by aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Rodney is also survived by his lifelong friend and "brother", Tim Zirkle. Rodney especially valued his friend and colleague Lauren Grove and her husband, Andrew and truly enjoyed his time with their children Joseph and Natalie. Rodney will be greatly missed by a devoted group of friends from Longwood College and their families. Rodney relished the time he spent with athletes and coaching staff, his colleagues, and many students throughout his career.

Rodney grew up in Lyndhurst in Augusta County and graduated from Stuarts Draft High School in 1980. He was active in high school sports and played football, basketball, and baseball throughout high school. Because of his love of sports and athletics, Rodney majored in Physical Education at Longwood College, graduating in December 1984. While at Longwood, he and his friends formed an intramural team called The Fever, and they were the only non-fraternity team to win the all-around intramural trophy three consecutive years.

After graduating from college, Rodney first worked as a long-term sub for Augusta County Public Schools. Rodney then taught at Riverheads Elementary during the 1985-86 school year. Due to the annexation of Augusta County by Staunton, Rodney's position was eliminated, and he worked for his uncle, Don Cullen, at Classic Auto Body in Waynesboro 1986-87.

Following that, Rodney was employed as a physical education teacher at Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro from 1987 to 2003. During this seventeen year period, he served in many capacities in addition to teaching physical education. Rodney created a physical education curriculum for FMS and wrote an Athletic Director's Handbook while serving in that role during his last ten years at FMS. He taught physical education on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then performed duties as an athletic director on Tuesday and Thursday. In addition, Rodney was the head basketball coach at FMS for a number of seasons leading his team to a win in the Virginia Independent Schools League Championship. In addition, he served as the head baseball coach for a number of seasons until he began coaching his sons' Little League and AAU teams.

Rodney coached his oldest son, Brooks, in Little League baseball from age four to twelve, and then coached several AAU teams followed by coaching Brooks in varsity baseball at Wilson Memorial High School from 2003 to 2006. Rodney coached his younger son, Hunter, one season of Little League baseball and later coached him in varsity basketball at WMHS from 2006 to 2009. Rodney coached his daughter, Lacey, in Tee Ball in Waynesboro. Though Rodney was always busy teaching and coaching, he made it to every activity and event possible in which his children were involved.

In August of 2003, Rodney began teaching at Wilson Memorial High School. He taught different grade levels of PE and Health as well as advanced PE classes before settling into his niche in tenth grade PE and Driver Education. Rodney taught behind-the-wheel driver training as part of the school curriculum and later taught driver training outside of school hours for several companies, most recently Doc's Driving School. Rodney started off his coaching career as a JV football coach, assistant to Tony Ramsey in boys basketball for three years, and assistant baseball coach with Rod Pierce for one season. Following this, he served as head varsity boys basketball coach, and for a period of time alternated as head varsity baseball coach and assistant coach with Derek McDaniel until Derek left to work in Waynesboro. In addition to this collaboration, Rodney and Derek also coached together in the Valley League in Waynesboro for The Waynesboro Generals.

In 2013, Rodney led his WMHS baseball team to the State Championship. Rodney often reflected on this win, noting that the secret of their success had been strong leadership by six seniors on the team; also, his players were all solid athletes with good fundamental skills, tremendous work ethics, great attitudes, and a commitment to teamwork. In addition, the players on the 2013 championship team were blessed with parents who encouraged them and showed unwavering support for the coaching staff. Rodney always felt very fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff who were not only great at working with the team, but also just good people who were great to know.

Following the 2013 state championship, Rodney and his baseball players and their dedicated families began raising money to make improvements to the Wilson Memorial baseball field. One devoted parent and Augusta County teacher, Patti Driver, worked diligently with Rodney to get through the process required to get a grant available through Augusta County Parks and Recreation. Rodney presented his proposal to the Board and it was approved. Over the next year, Rodney spent every spare moment of his time building a new stadium for WMHS. Right along with him was Dwayne Rothgeb, an experienced mason, who volunteered his time and completed all the brick work. Numerous other parents and businesses contributed supplies or their time and energy, helping and supporting Rodney in this monumental effort.

Over almost four decades, Rodney officiated the National Wheelchair Games for the Paralyzed Veterans Association during the summer, traveling to cities all over the United States and Puerto Rico. He enjoyed doing this with his best friend Tim Zirkle and a group of dedicated officials from Virginia. Like Rodney, many of the Virginia officials had lived in this area and had worked in various capacities at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. For several years, Rodney also worked at WWRC, as it was called at the time, in the recreation department on weekends while teaching at FMS. Though Rodney enjoyed visiting all the cities while officiating the games, he especially loved San Antonio and its Riverwalk, and he enjoyed Seattle where he watched fireworks over Puget Sound on the Fourth of July. He attended major league ball games in most of these cities including New York City where he watched both home teams play. While in Anchorage, Alaska, Rodney was pleased to encounter a college summer league team in the Alaskan League, and he pitched batting practice to them almost every day. Rodney loved pitching batting practice, and somehow his arm endured over the decades.

Another contribution Rodney made over the years was donating blood through Virginia Blood Services and the Red Cross. Earlier in 2024, he surpassed the 15 gallon mark in donations. Rodney started donating blood while at FMS and continued at WMHS though it was hard to find time in his schedule. He often traveled to Harrisonburg or Charlottesville on the weekend to donate. This was an especially important mission for Rodney; he had type O negative blood, and was a "universal donor."

Rodney's favorite spot on Earth, besides the Shenandoah Valley, was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He vacationed there with extended family and friends throughout his childhood. Rodney and his wife and children enjoyed Myrtle Beach, staying there many summers in his grandmother's beach place. Of all the things to do at Myrtle Beach, Rodney's favorite thing was hunting for sharks' teeth. He had an uncanny ability to find them, and he amassed quite a collection. His last visit to Myrtle Beach was in June 2024 with his wife, sister, and brother-in-law.

Another activity Rodney enjoyed was hunting. He began hunting in November of 1987 when his eldest son was born. More recently, Rodney spent more time hunting with a bow than with a gun. He was successful during most of his hunting seasons. In the last couple of years, Rodney was just as likely to come back with stories about the antics of all the wildlife he had observed that day. Rodney always said that the best part of hunting was just being outside and enjoying his surroundings.

Having pets was essential to Rodney. He loved animals of all kinds. Over the years, there were always multiple cats and dogs in the Cullen household: Comet, Rascal, Riley, Lucky, Sparkie, Tub, Roxie, Angel, Bella, Willow, and Molly. Rodney also had a ball python that he simply called "Snake," but he enjoyed caring for it and displaying its impressive sheds on his bulletin board in his classroom. When Rodney wasn't busy, he could be found in the family room on the sofa with a number of furry companions piled around him.

"Roll Tide!" was Rodney's favorite slogan. He was an Alabama football fan since his childhood. Rodney was also a lifetime supporter of the Baltimore Orioles. Rodney was a person whose loyalty did not waiver. Rodney especially enjoyed watching college athletics.

Rodney Cullen was known as a hard worker with an unparalleled work ethic. Whatever he took on, he was fully committed. Outside of the school year, Rodney completed many projects at home, renovating the kitchen and family room and updating a bathroom after teaching himself how to install plumbing. He did some of this work during the school closure caused by the pandemic, and he also built a "treeless" treehouse for his grandchildren during this time.

Though many will remember Rodney for his work ethic, his passion, and his commitment, Rodney also had a wonderful and sometimes wicked sense of humor. Another thing that stands out about Rodney is that he was genuine. Rodney was always himself no matter the situation or people involved. His values were clear, and he lived by them. He was humble, and despite opportunities to advance beyond the classroom, he chose remain there because he would say, "I teach. That is what I was meant to do." Rodney knew from the age of ten that he wanted to be a physical education teacher when he grew up, and he carried out this plan touching thousands of lives along the way.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Wilson Memorial High School on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

Rodney's family requests that, in memory of Rodney, monetary donations or blood donations be made to the American Red Cross.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.