John T. Curtis of Masonville, IA passed away at his home in Decatur, AL on August 25, 2024, at the age of 84 in the presence of his three daughters, Valerie Curtis, Kim Curtis Jinks, and Stephanie Curtis Collins.
John or “Curt,” a nickname he was given by his barracks mates and as he was called by his first wife’s family, was born on September 27, 1939, to Jesse Evan and Mary Rose Curtis and was the youngest of five children. When he was 16, a classmate and friend talked him into asking his dad to allow him to quit school and enlist in the U.S. Air Force. He did and served honorably for 22 years before retiring in 1976 from Active Duty and then an additional 2 years as a Reservist in order to retire with the rank of Senior MSgt (Senior Master Sergeant).
As a young airman stationed in Fort Walton Beach, he met his first wife, Kate Gamble of Bessemer, AL when he introduced to her by a member of his squad. He spent time in Germany and North Africa and upon his return to the states, he married Kate in 1962, and they had three daughters. At the end of Viet Nam, John was assigned to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand in 1970 and served there until returning to the states and entering the Recruiting Command in 1972 which took the family to Hill Air Force base in Ogden, UT for training until his assignment as one of the area recruiters in North Alabama stationed in Decatur until he retired and moved the family to Hartselle where he was active in the community including the Hartselle High School Football Boosters despite having no boys but had girls who cheered and were involved in school activities. He also helped and coached his girls’ softball teams over many years.
John had completed his GED while serving and after retirement entered Calhoun Community College on the GI and eventually completed his bachelor’s degree at Athens State College in 1980 before returning to serve his country as a DoD civilian employee working on U.S. Army Tactical and Air Support Projects as a Intelligence and Security Specialist with the Under Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
John and Kate enjoyed camping, boating, traveling, and were avid league bowlers. After Kate’s passing in 1998, he continued to enjoy camping with friends and was introduced to and married Judy Hayes Livingston in 2000 where he continued to travel after selling the family home in Hartselle and living the RV life for six years prior to settling in his place of residence in Decatur that he truly called HOME.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his oldest sister, Mildred Johnson, his brothers, Glen and Harold Curtis; his wives, Kate Gamble and Judy Livingston.
Survivors include his daughters:
Valerie Curtis
Kim Curtis Jinks and her husband, Mark
Stephanie Curtis Collins and her husband, Scott
His Grandchildren:
Andrew Rutherford
Haley Rutherford Harris and her husband, Clay
Taylor Rutherford French and her husband, Brandon
Shelby Epps and her fiancé, Ben
Luke Epps and his fiancé, Liz
Alex Collins and his wife, Ellen
Caroline Collins and her husband, Weston
John’s stepchildren that he considered his children:
Julie Livingston Gore and her husband, Glen
Karen Sparkman
Lori Livingston Dudley and her husband, Bennie
And their children:
Michelle Gore Coleman and her husband, Blake
Michael Gore
Daniel Sparkman and his wife, Rebeca
Justin Sparkman
Chole Henson
Cole Henson
And many great grandchildren that he loved dearly as he did his family, friends, the US military and the United States of America.
Funeral Service will be Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 11:00AM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ray Stanbridge officiating with burial in Burningtree Memorial Gardens and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00AM-11:00AM at the funeral Home.
