Curtis was the son of George Dewey Allen and Ollie Williams. The family lived in Roxana, Madison County, Illinois. Curtis' father worked as a pipefitter at the Shell Oil refinery in Roxana.
Curtis attended Roxana High School where he was a member of the football team in the early 1940's. A sports enthusiast, he also played other sports as well.
He was employed as a truck driver by the Roxana City Street Department for a year before he volunteered to serve in the United States Navy in May of 1944.
Curtis took part in 6 major Pacific engagements while serving on a Casablanca class escort carrier named the U.S.S. Natoma Bay. During his 13 months in the Pacific Theatre, he participated in Philippine engagements from the Battle of Leyte Gulf to the Battle of Mindoro, the carrier strike on Sacashima, and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
While operating off of Sacashima in June of 1945, Curtis' ship, the Natoma Bay, was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. Damage was light enough that the carrier was able to continue on with the task force.
Curtis returned to the states in August of 1945 and was detached from the carrier in March of 1946. He then spent 2 months at Green Cove Springs, Florida, where he assisted in the decommissioning of 2 destroyers.
He received an honorable discharge from the navy in Jacksonville, Florida on 16 May 1946 at the Naval Personnel Separation Center. At that time, he was a seaman first class and was the recipient of 4 campaign ribbons: the American Theater, the Asiatic-Pacific with 4 battle stars, the Philippine Liberation with 2 stars, and the Victory Ribbon.
After the war, Curtis married Evelyn Margaret Hagen on 21 Sep 1946 in the rectory of St. Norbert's Catholic Church in Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. They were the parents of 1 child.
During the early years of their marriage, Curtis was employed at the Modern Plumbing and Heating Supply Company in East Alton, Illinois. Evelyn was the owner and operator of the Roxana Beauty Shoppe in Roxana.
Evelyn passed away in 1958 at the age of 35.
Curtis lived more than 60 years after her death. He was a heating, ventilation and air conditioning sheet metal worker in Illinois and California.
He was known as a beagle hound enthusiast. He owned champion beagles and served as a confirmation judge for beagle field trials.
In his free time, Curtis enjoyed being outdoors. He liked to fish and traveled extensively throughout North America.
He died at Integrity of Wood River at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 5 days.
He was survived by 1 son and 1 daughter-in-law of Queen Creek, Arizona; 1 granddaughter and 1 grandson, and their spouses; 5 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated. Inurnment of the ashes at St. Norbert's Catholic Cemetery took place on 02 Nov 2019. Graveside services took place at 11 a.m. that morning. Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Hardin was in charge of arrangements.
Children: 1 son.
Father of:
Kevin Dewey Allen
Curtis was the son of George Dewey Allen and Ollie Williams. The family lived in Roxana, Madison County, Illinois. Curtis' father worked as a pipefitter at the Shell Oil refinery in Roxana.
Curtis attended Roxana High School where he was a member of the football team in the early 1940's. A sports enthusiast, he also played other sports as well.
He was employed as a truck driver by the Roxana City Street Department for a year before he volunteered to serve in the United States Navy in May of 1944.
Curtis took part in 6 major Pacific engagements while serving on a Casablanca class escort carrier named the U.S.S. Natoma Bay. During his 13 months in the Pacific Theatre, he participated in Philippine engagements from the Battle of Leyte Gulf to the Battle of Mindoro, the carrier strike on Sacashima, and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
While operating off of Sacashima in June of 1945, Curtis' ship, the Natoma Bay, was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. Damage was light enough that the carrier was able to continue on with the task force.
Curtis returned to the states in August of 1945 and was detached from the carrier in March of 1946. He then spent 2 months at Green Cove Springs, Florida, where he assisted in the decommissioning of 2 destroyers.
He received an honorable discharge from the navy in Jacksonville, Florida on 16 May 1946 at the Naval Personnel Separation Center. At that time, he was a seaman first class and was the recipient of 4 campaign ribbons: the American Theater, the Asiatic-Pacific with 4 battle stars, the Philippine Liberation with 2 stars, and the Victory Ribbon.
After the war, Curtis married Evelyn Margaret Hagen on 21 Sep 1946 in the rectory of St. Norbert's Catholic Church in Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. They were the parents of 1 child.
During the early years of their marriage, Curtis was employed at the Modern Plumbing and Heating Supply Company in East Alton, Illinois. Evelyn was the owner and operator of the Roxana Beauty Shoppe in Roxana.
Evelyn passed away in 1958 at the age of 35.
Curtis lived more than 60 years after her death. He was a heating, ventilation and air conditioning sheet metal worker in Illinois and California.
He was known as a beagle hound enthusiast. He owned champion beagles and served as a confirmation judge for beagle field trials.
In his free time, Curtis enjoyed being outdoors. He liked to fish and traveled extensively throughout North America.
He died at Integrity of Wood River at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 5 days.
He was survived by 1 son and 1 daughter-in-law of Queen Creek, Arizona; 1 granddaughter and 1 grandson, and their spouses; 5 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
The body was cremated. Inurnment of the ashes at St. Norbert's Catholic Cemetery took place on 02 Nov 2019. Graveside services took place at 11 a.m. that morning. Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Hardin was in charge of arrangements.
Children: 1 son.
Father of:
Kevin Dewey Allen
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