HARRY EUGENE "HARRY GENE" CULLEN, 54, of Snow Hill, died suddenly on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born October 16, 1954 and raised in Crisfield, he was a son of William Edgar Cullen of Crisfield and the late Ida Ruth Howard Cullen.

He was a 1972 graduate of Crisfield High School and Wicomico County Vo-Tech, as a mechanic, also in 1972.

Harry began his career in law enforcement in 1972 as a Dispatcher/Clerk for the Crisfield Police Department until 1975. He then worked as a police officer for the Berlin Police Department until 1981, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Starting in 1981, Harry was employed by the Worcester County Sheriff's Office until 1993, retiring due to an injury having achieved the rank of Sergeant/K9.

He was a State Certified Firearms Instructor, Instructor for Officer Street Survival, and Associate Instructor for practice of Satanism rituals, and methods to prevent the spread of cult incidents. He was a K9 Handler, and Advanced Accident Reconstruction & Traffic Homicide Investigator. Harry received many letters of appreciation during his years of service.

His memberships included Newark Fire Department where he was a member for 15 years, Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044, Police Motorcycle Group Blue Knights of MD Chapter #5, Sons of American Legion Post #16 in Crisfield, Worcester County Planning and Zoning Board, Past President of Snow Hill Little League, Asbury United Methodist Church in Crisfield, past member of the Fraternal Order of Police, and he attended Spence Baptist Church in Snow Hill.

He enjoyed woodworking, boating, fishing, motorcycling, off-roading, computing (especially Face Book!), and was an avid NASCAR fan. He loved to play bass guitar in the band "Showdown" and numerous others. He also enjoyed jam sessions with his buddy's.

Harry had a contagious love for life, and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
He was a devoted and loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, nephew and friend.

Along with his father, William Edgar Cullen, he is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Serman Cullen, whom he married October 16, 1993; four children, Nicole Dorsey and husband, Dale, of Kingston, Michael Joseph Cullen and wife, Holly, of Newark, Michelle Lynn Shupp and husband, Jeremy, of Ocean Pines, and Nathaniel Brooks and special friend, Alice, of Berlin; four grandchildren, Cameron Miles Cullen, William Nicholas Dorsey, Sebastian Michael Cullen, Mitch Shupp, and two grandbabies on the way; his brother and sister, William Dale Cullen and wife, Karen, of Beaufort, South Carolina and Patricia Gale Jones of Crisfield; and his aunts and uncles, Gertrude and Roy Spires, Kay Howard and the late William Frances Howard, Jimmy and Terri Cullen, Harlene and William Clayton, Mary Ellen Ward and the late Dicky Ward, Patti and Mike Murata, Jon Rae Nelson, Ethel Mae Nelson, the late Virginia Redavid, the late Elton Howard, Jr., and the late William Alan Howard. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends also survive him, as well as his dog, Beau, and his cat, Sabrina.

The family will receive friends Sunday, August 16, 2009 at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield from 2-3 PM with an Elks Memorial Service at 2:30.

A celebration of his life will be held Monday, August 17, 2009 at 11 AM at Spence Baptist Church in Snow Hill where the family will receive friend's one-hour prior. The Rev. Ken Elligson will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory are requested to be sent to Spence Baptist Church, 4824 Paw Paw Creek Road, Snow Hill, Maryland 21863.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com