Curtiss grew up in Alpine, Utah, on a farm and chicken ranch. He worked hard to attend Brigham Young University where he would eventually graduate in accounting. Later in his life he received his teaching certificate and earned a master's degree in systems educational management from Chapman College. In 1950 he served a mission in Hawaii for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and treasured his time and service there.
Upon returning from his mission, the Korean War had begun, so he joined the ROTC. Upon graduation from BYU, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and entered active duty in 1955. He went to navigation training in Houston, Texas, which is where he earned his wings and met his beautiful wife, Robbie Nell Beathard. They were married and later sealed in the Salt Lake temple on February 7, 1957.
They welcomed their first son, Kenneth, in 1958. Over the next two years they had two more sons, Paul Jay and Lynn R., both who came prematurely and lived a very short time. Their fourth son, Ronald Curtiss, joined their family in 1962 while living in Bountiful, Utah.
He served in the Air Force for many years where he had the opportunity to travel and live around the world, but he always missed his family back home. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978 and taught math at Bingham High and West Jordan High until he retired in 1992.
Curtiss and Robbie spent the next 28 years going on missions for the church and serving in the temple. They served missions in Spain, Switzerland, Washington D.C. and in the translation department in Salt Lake. While serving in the temple presidency in Switzerland, Curtiss was set apart by President Gordon B. Hinckley as a temple sealer. He deeply cherished his time as a sealer in the Jordan River temple until 2020.
He found his greatest joy in serving the Lord and spending time with his family. He made everyone feel special and loved and he will be greatly missed.
Curtiss is survived by his wife, Robbie Beathard Smith; son, Ron (Carolyn) Smith; grandchildren, Curtiss (Ginger) Smith, Chantelle (Corban) Carlson, Austin Smith, Brian (Morgan) Smith, and Cameron Smith; and many great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing from 9:00- 10:30 a.m., in the River Ridge 7th Ward, 10124 S. 1300 W. in South Jordan. Interment will be at Camp Williams.
Published by Deseret News from Aug. 5 to Aug. 7, 2022.
Curtiss grew up in Alpine, Utah, on a farm and chicken ranch. He worked hard to attend Brigham Young University where he would eventually graduate in accounting. Later in his life he received his teaching certificate and earned a master's degree in systems educational management from Chapman College. In 1950 he served a mission in Hawaii for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and treasured his time and service there.
Upon returning from his mission, the Korean War had begun, so he joined the ROTC. Upon graduation from BYU, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and entered active duty in 1955. He went to navigation training in Houston, Texas, which is where he earned his wings and met his beautiful wife, Robbie Nell Beathard. They were married and later sealed in the Salt Lake temple on February 7, 1957.
They welcomed their first son, Kenneth, in 1958. Over the next two years they had two more sons, Paul Jay and Lynn R., both who came prematurely and lived a very short time. Their fourth son, Ronald Curtiss, joined their family in 1962 while living in Bountiful, Utah.
He served in the Air Force for many years where he had the opportunity to travel and live around the world, but he always missed his family back home. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978 and taught math at Bingham High and West Jordan High until he retired in 1992.
Curtiss and Robbie spent the next 28 years going on missions for the church and serving in the temple. They served missions in Spain, Switzerland, Washington D.C. and in the translation department in Salt Lake. While serving in the temple presidency in Switzerland, Curtiss was set apart by President Gordon B. Hinckley as a temple sealer. He deeply cherished his time as a sealer in the Jordan River temple until 2020.
He found his greatest joy in serving the Lord and spending time with his family. He made everyone feel special and loved and he will be greatly missed.
Curtiss is survived by his wife, Robbie Beathard Smith; son, Ron (Carolyn) Smith; grandchildren, Curtiss (Ginger) Smith, Chantelle (Corban) Carlson, Austin Smith, Brian (Morgan) Smith, and Cameron Smith; and many great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing from 9:00- 10:30 a.m., in the River Ridge 7th Ward, 10124 S. 1300 W. in South Jordan. Interment will be at Camp Williams.
Published by Deseret News from Aug. 5 to Aug. 7, 2022.
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