James Edwin Curtis

James Edwin Curtis, 86, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Monday, July 3, 2006, in a local hospital. He was born on April 3, 1920, at home, to the late William Ernest and Nancy Rominger Curtis. He was a World War II veteran with the 8th Army Division, Infantry I, attached to Gen. George S. Patton, 3rd Army. He was in 4 campaigns and received 2 purple hearts during his service time. He was a member of East Side Church of Christ. He retired from Hardwick Stove/Maytag with 39 years in 1985 and after retirement he was the groundskeeper for over 10 years at Oak Grove Elementary School. He was one of the major people involved in developing and building a walking trail located at Oak Grove Elementary School. He was a member of the Wal-Mart Coffee Club. He was a trustee of the Bradley County Education Foundation. He was a charter member of the Oak Grove Ruitain Club and the Cleveland ASA Umpire?s Association. He was a member of the Bradley/Cleveland United Softball Association umpiring in ASA, USSSA, NSA, and ISA for 40 years, and was a TSSAA Tri-County Football/Basketball Association official and Baseball official spanning from Dixie Youth Baseball at Fulbright Park to Cleveland State Community College for 41 years. In 1981 he was recognized for his dedication to youth sports in Cleveland. In 1990 he was inducted into the Old Timers Club Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Gladys L. Ledford Curtis and five brothers Horace, Fred, J.L., Austin, and Otis Curtis, and two sisters, Beatrice Curtis and Pearl McCracken. Mr. Curtis is survived by three children: Deborah Swafford and her husband Danny of Old Fort, Rhonda Teague of Cleveland, and Edwin Curtis and his wife Suzanne of Cleveland; 6 grandchildren, Melissa Grayless of Cleveland, April Matthews and her husband Chad of Old Fort, Jennifer Barrett of Cleveland, Jeff Swafford of Cookeville, Will Curtis of Cleveland, and Emma Curtis of Cleveland; 4 great-grandchildren: D.J. Grayless of Cleveland, Peyton Grayless of Cleveland, Holden Barrett of Cleveland, and Aaron Matthews of Old Fort; one sister, Drucilla Burger and her husband, Arthel (Art) of Cleveland; one sister-in-law, Frances Curtis of Cleveland; several nieces and nephews and a special friend and care giver, Myrtle Wilhoit. The funeral will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, July 6, 2006 at East Side Church of Christ with Jeff Archey and Bill Maynard officiating. Interment will follow at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with military honors and the white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Eugene McCracken, Glen Curtis, Billy Curtis, Jimmy Burger, Terry Curtis, Forrest Allen, David Hodge, and Randy Curtis will serve as pallbearers. Charles Beck, Barney Stiles, the Bradley/Cleveland United Umpire/Scorekeeper Association, and the Tri-County Association will serve as honorary pallbearers.