John T. Curtis
Masonville, Iowa John T. Curtis of Masonville, Iowa 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 Master Sergeant.
As a young airman stationed in Fort Walton Beach, he met his first wife, Kate Gamble 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 the Vietnam War 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, Utah 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 an 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 (Mark) and Stephanie Curtis Collins (Scott); grandchildren, Andrew Rutherford, Haley Rutherford Harris (Clay), Taylor Rutherford French (Brandon), Shelby Epps (Ben), Luke Epps (Liz), Alex Collins (Ellen) and Caroline Collins (Weston.); stepchildren whom he considered his own, Julie Livingston Gore (Glen), Karen Sparkman and Lori Livingston Dudley (Bennie); and their children, Michelle Gore Coleman (Blake), Michael Gore, Daniel Sparkman (Rebeca), Justin Sparkman, Chole Henson and Cole Henson; and many greatgrandchildren that he loved dearly as he did his family, friends, the U.S. Military and the United States of America.
Funeral Service was held Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 11:00AM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ray Stanbridge officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
