Raymond Wilson Curtis
Raymond Wilson Curtis, age 99 of Orrville, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Brenn-Field Nursing Center in Orrville, where he had been a patient for three years.
Raymond was born on July 3, 1919, in Burton City, Ohio to Lawrence and Flora (Lorson) Curtis. He graduated from Burton City School #8 and served as a PFC in the Army during World War II. He married Betty Jane (Jones) Curtis on Nov. 12, 1939, in Greenup, Kentucky.
Raymond’s most cherished life events included his life with Betty, whose marriage lasted 78 years until her death in January. Together with the help of friends and family, they built their home north of Burton City, where they lived from the 1940s until 2007 when they sold it and moved into a condo at Blackberry Farms in Orrville. With their children they camped and traveled all around the country and Canada on family vacations. Raymond and Betty also enjoyed attending the sporting events of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were devoted fans.
Raymond enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He enjoyed hunting trips to Wyoming with his hunting “gang” in pursuit of antelope and mule deer. His employment at the J.M. Smucker Company was a very special time in his life. He loved and respected the Smucker Family as well as his fellow employees. He worked in various positions for J.M. Smucker for 43 years, retiring in 1981.
A highlight of his later years was his trip with the Akron-Canton Honor Flight in 2012, where they visited the war memorials in Washington, D.C.
Perhaps Raymond’s most special memories included his military service in the Army as Private, First Class in the 8th Corps, Military Police Battalion. His wartime experiences included the D-Day Invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, seeing General Patton and liberating the prisoners at Buchenwald. Many memories of this time he kept to himself, but he liked to share the experiences that had a humorous side.
Raymond instilled in his family love of our country, a hard working ethic and thriftiness. His sense of humor and talent for story-telling was enjoyed by friends and family alike.
With little more than an elementary education, he provided a home for his family, a college education for both of his children, many wonderful family vacations and built a “nest egg” for his family future. He volunteered to defend his country in a world war, was a handyman to many friends and worked for the same company for 43 years. Calling him a hero is not an exaggeration.
Raymond was a member of Christ United Church of Christ in Orrville, American Legion Post 282, Orrville Farmers & Sportsmen's Club, Wayne County Hunters Association, J.M. Smucker Retirees Club and Men's Brotherhood of Christ United Church of Christ.
Surviving are his son, Dennis (Sally) Curtis of Orrville; daughter, Jolane R. (Gary) Day of New Waterford; six grandchildren, Stacey (Jason) Haley of Orrville, Nicole (Brian) Lacy of Orrville, Brooks (Tammi) Curtis of Orrville, John (Chelsea) Curtis of Wooster, Julie Day of Columbiana and Geri (Mike) Whitfield of Columbiana; and 10 great-grandchildren, Cooper, Averi, Owen, Katie, Gunner, Maverick, Grant, Lucy, Alexis and Emily.
Raymond was preceded in death by both parents; wife, Betty Jane Curtis; sister, Regina Miller; and brother, Stephen Curtis.
Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9 at Auble Funeral Home, 512 E. Oak St., Orrville, with Pastor Ernie Hershberger officiating. Burial will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, where military rites will be observed.
Friends may call on Thursday at the funeral home from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at the funeral home's website at www.aublefuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be made to LifeCare Hospice, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
