Cecil Lee Curtis.
Farmer, Miner, Soldier, Husband, and Father!
May God Bless The USA.
"Cecil L. Curtis"
Cecil Curtis was born and raised in the
Echols Community and in the general area where the Western Kentucky Parkway went
through Echols. We always called that general area, "Curtis Town". It was not uncommon
in the days of the early twentieth century for several families members to raise
families in a central area. Thus, several families of Curtis's lived in the general
area of "Curtis Town". There was also "Scottown", "Key Town" and the list goes on.
None-the-less, a nearby school provided the place for the Curtis' to receive their
education. Echols School, or more affectionally known as "Pink Hall", was the local
school. Cecil, as well as most of his siblings and cousins completed their education
at Pink Hall.
A few years after high school, Cecil's name came up active in the local draft board
and he was drafted into Army Air Force. In January of 1943, he went to Fort Benjamin
Harrison in Indiana for processing and then was sent to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri.
After six weeks training in Missouri, Cecil was shipped to Santa Maria Air Base
for more training and preconditioning. He then boarded a "Troop Train" and was
transferred to Orlando Air Base in Orlando Florida. By the time the "Troop Train"
arrived in Florida, most of the soldiers had seen enough of trains to last them a
lifetime. Cecil's duty in Florida was to his liking as well as the general area.
By now he was assigned to the Army and placed in a "Transportation Group". His
initial training was complete and he settled in for his tour of duty. All for
naught though, as during some medical test, a "Peptic Ulcer" was found and Cecil
was given a Medical Discharge under Honorable conditions and sent home.
After returning to Rockport, Cecil married Jean Welborn and proceeded to raise a
family. He worked at a few jobs before he secured one of those good jobs from Peabody
Coal Company and Cecil started working for Ken Mine and worked there until retirement.
He and Jean bought a few acres in Rockport and built a house in order to continue
to raise their family. There were two children, a boy and a girl. Several grandchildren
have made this couple happy retirees.
OBITUARY:
ROCKPORT - Cecil Lee Curtis, 92, of Rockport, died Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 3:20PM
at Ohio County Hospital. Mr. Curtis was born September 21, 1919 in Echols to the late
Ed and Dorcie Heflin Curtis. He was an Army-Air Corp veteran of World War II, a member
of Rockport Baptist Church, and was retired from Peabody-Ken Mine. He was preceded in
death by his wife of 72 years, Imogene Welborn Curtis in 2011; eight brothers; and
five sisters. Survivors include his son, Ronald Lee Curtis; daughter Peggy (Billy)
Pendley; grandchildren Susan Hewatt, Chris Curtis, and John Jon (Tabby) Pendley; four
great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; brother James (Bette) Curtis of Rockport;
sister-in-law Joan Curtis of Beaver Dam; brother-in-law Charles Grant of Louisville;
his caregiver, Teresa Joines and family; and extended family and friends. Funeral services
will be Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 1:00PM at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City,
with Bro. Bob Milburn and Don Dossett officiating. Burial in Echols Cemetery in Ohio
County. Visitation will be Friday from 5-8PM at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy
may take the form of contributions to Rockport Baptist Church, P.O. Box 56, Rockport,
KY 42369. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.
See you..
jerry
Cecil Curtis.
