Robert Lee Curtis

Robert “Bob” Lee Curtis, Sr., 93, of Mathewson Street in Hudson passed peacefully into the hands of God at 12:45 PM on Tuesday October 11, 2016 at Lenoir Healthcare center with his family at his side after a period of declining health. He was born on Broadway Street in Lenoir, NC on April 1, 1923 to Lawrence Julius Curtis and Allie Henderson Winkler Curtis. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Lowell Columbus Curtis (Elise Hicks and Ann Brookshire), sister Vernie Lucille Alspaugh (Loye Alspaugh); brothers, Julius “Jay”(JC) Clifford Curtis (Florence Pritchard), Charles “Choo Choo” Ambrose Curtis, and Lawrence “Buddy” Winkler Curtis. He is also preceded in death by his first wife Alma Wilson Caudle and their son Robert “Bobby” Lee Curtis II. He is also preceded in death by his nephew David Sentele. Surviving are his sisters-in-law Margaret Curtis (Buddy) and Bertie Curtis (Charles). Left to carry on his legacy are his second wife Sara J. Curtis and children Robert Curtis, Jr, Roberta “Jeannie” Curtis, Kurt Curtis and wife, Cheryl, Daniel Curtis, and Angela “Angie” VonKamp. He is survived by grandchildren, Robert “Little Robert” Curtis III of Charlotte son of Robert Curtis II; Lori Curtis Tolbert (Brian), MSgt. Joseph Curtis (Andrea), Jonathan Curtis (Ashely) children of Robert Curtis Jr.; Zachariah Hatton, Jeremiah Hatton, and Jennifer Dibernardi (Dino) children of Roberta “Jeannie” McCall; Andrea Curtis, Brandon Curtis, Dalton Curtis, and Christen Richards children of Kurt Curtis; and Kimberly Minton, twins Meghan VonKamp and Madison VonKamp children of Angela VonKamp. He is survived by his great grandchildren; Asher Tolbert (Bryan & Lori Tolbert); Astin Curtis (Joseph & Andrea Curtis); Savannah & Sara Curtis (Jonathan & Ashley Curtis); Kinley Dibernardi (Dino & Jennifer Dibernardi); Izaiah Hartsell and Hailey Reid (Andrea Curtis); Bryson Curtis (Brandon Curtis); and Garrison Clark (Kimberly Minton); In the coming new year of 2017 he will add to his great grandchildren by the gracious birth of a son to Kimberly Minton and Cody Reid to be followed by the gracious birth of identical twins to be born to Jennifer and Dino Dibernardi. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Wayne Curtis and Patsy Kight (Lowell and Elsie Curtis); Judy Miller, Sherry Brookshire, and Bobby Alspaugh (Vernie Alspaugh); Richard Curtis, Eugene Curtis, and Patricia Apple (Jay and Florence Curtis); Mike Curtis and Teresa Curtis (Charles and Bertie Curtis); Lauren Curtis and Bryan Curtis (Buddy and Margaret Curtis). Surviving also are cousins and great nieces and nephews. He had a special friend Gladys Minton who cared for him deeply. He attended Lenoir City Schools and Lenoir High School. He was a veteran of WWII. He and Jay enlisted in the NCNG 3rd Battalion Headquarters Battery 113th Field Artillery Lenoir detachment in 1940. The unit mobilized September 16, 1940 to active military service for training in the US Army. The unit was sent to Fort Jackson, SC from Lenoir for training and was later deactivated thus splitting the unit up to various services in the Army. Robert “Bob” Curtis, Sr. was the last living member of those in the 113th Field Artillery unit from Lenoir that left for WWII. He served from 1940 to 1946 in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Germany, the duration of the war. Bob was employed at the State Theater in Lenoir, Kent-Coffey Furniture, City of Lenoir, Gilbert Engineering, and retiring from Hickory Sand Company after 20 years as a heavy equipment operator. He later worked at Earl Hall's Used Cars in Whitnel till Earl passed. Dad would take the family camping at Still Creek Park, to Carowinds, and to Tweetise. He loved to watch racing on TV and listen to local radio WJRI. He loved to talk on CB radio with handle “Ole Gran-dad”. He will be remembered most for his cigars and the mention of Wild Turkey as a cure all although he had not drank in many decades. His life was filled with many adventures and through the years up or down, thin or flush, he loved us all. His passing is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Bob grew up during the depression and always said he knew what it was like to go hungry. He in his later life would help any person that needed it even if it was his last dollar especially those who needed food or a meal. For this the family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made in Bob's name to the Lenoir Soup Kitchen or local food banks in Caldwell County. A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Evans Funeral Service. Military Honors will be provided by the North Carolina National Guard and Caldwell County Veteran's Honor Guard. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences can be sent to the Curtis family at www.evansfuneralservice.com. Evans Funeral Service and Crematory of Lenoir are serving the Curtis family.