Benjamin F Curtis' Obituary
Benjamin,”Ben” F. Curtis, Sr., was born on April 30, 1934, the first of five children to Carter Sr. and Tessie L. Butts Curtis in Texas. After graduating from the historic I.M. Terrell High School, he entered the Air Force and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. From there he entered Aircraft and Maintenance School at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas. He has served at Air Force Bases in the United States and overseas. Ben had been a crew chief on many aircrafts. In 1962 to 1977, Ben was a Flight Engineer on C-130’s. He was an Instructor Flight Engineer with over six thousand, five hundred hours on the C-130 aircraft. He has traveled to some thirty-eight countries, with over 1600 hours of combat time. He thereby earned the Distinguished Flying Cross after flying over six years in South Vietnam. In addition, his decorations and awards include the Air Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Sergeant Curtis left the Air Force after 23+ years of service, and started a 24-year second career as a master machinist on 757 aircraft and Chief Union Steward at Boeing Aircraft Company.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two siblings, son-in-law Karl L. Johnson, and granddaughter Amber R. Pratcher. Survivors include his three children; Benjamin F. Curtis, Jr. (Joni), Helene K. Curtis-Johnson, Shannon D. Curtis-Whitney (Robert); sister Arie, brother Carter, Jr. (Rosetta), sister-in-law Flora. He is also survived by partner Pamela Bones of Spanaway, WA; grandchildren, Benjamin S., Tristan, Christopher, Jared Eulinger, Alexander, Nathan, Justin and a great-grandchild Jaden, and numerous nieces and nephews.
“Life is a long lesson in humility; we have in all of us a proper amount of fortitude to bear the misfortunes that are on the path of life in order to make the journey.”
Ben
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