It
is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of our
classmate Wally Curtiss. Walter "Wally" D. Curtiss, died at
home, Tuesday, March 4, 2008 from cancer. Services were held at the
Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 2225 19th Street, Sacramento, CA. There
will be a gravesite service at the Academy Cemetary on October 2, 2008
at 1000. Walter Dallas Curtiss was born in Findlay, Ohio on October
21, 1945. He was the third of four children of an Air Force family,
and his parents and sister siblings knew him at home as “WD.”
As a member of a military family, WD traveled with his family throughout
the US and lived in Japan as a child. The family moved to Beale Air
Force in the summer of 1959 and he attended Gray Avenue and Yuba City
High Schools. Known as Walt by his classmates at Yuba City High School,
he lettered in football and wrestling and was elected class president
and Student Body President. He was also an Eagle Scout and a member
of the Beale Air Force Base Junior Rifle Team. In 1963, at the end of
his junior year, he was appointed to the US Air Force Academy, but declined
in order to graduate with his high school class. He entered USAFA from
Yuba City, California in 1964 while his father was assigned to Beale
AFB. Shortly after arriving at the zoo, "WD" became Wally,
and for all of us, that is the name that stuck during our time together
on campus. While he was at the Academy, Wally was an Astro major and
was in 14th Squadron for two years, 12th Squadron for one year, and
graduated DG from 27th Squadron, where he served as the Cadet Squadron
Commander. Upon graduation, he linked up with Dick Covey, Craig Baer,
and Dale Oderman as roommates at Purdue for a Masters in Aero and Astro.
Seeking fun and adventure when they weren't cracking the books, Wally
and his roommates chipped in on a small ski boat that they dragged up
to mountain lakes on weekends for sport and relaxation. After completing
an accelerated Masters program, Wally went to Williams AFB for pilot
training and then into OV-10s for a combat tour in Southeast Asia, where
he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and twelve Air Medals
for his heroism. Following his stint in Vietnam, he served for a couple
of years at Reese AFB as an instructor pilot and then separated from
the Air Force in 1975. Remaining in Lubbock, Texas, he earned a Masters
in Business Administration Texas Tech in 1977, and then went to work
for Bell Labs. After several years with Bell, he established his own
consulting business as a career project management professional. In
addition to precious time spent with his family and church, Wally continued
to fly as a private pilot and he enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping, and
hunting. In mid-2007, he was diagnosed with sarcoma and he underwent
surgery in February 2008. With the cancer in an advanced state, he was
unable to recover and died in his home on March 4, 2008. Walter was
a devout Christian, drawing on his faith throughout his illness. His
ashes will be buried at the US Air Force Academy, Colorado. Walter was
preceded in death by his father Colonel (Ret.) Philip H. Curtiss and
mother Eleanor Moorhead Curtiss. His is survived by his wife Emma Jane
Curtiss; his sisters Priscilla Curtiss Dwyer (Jim) of San Francisco,
Martha Curtiss Bunce (Craig Hall) of Marysville, and Jane Curtiss Penny
(Robert) of Phoenix; his children China Curtiss Kent (Seth) and Verity
Curtiss of Denver, Joshua and Ian Curtiss of Phoenix; his step children
Emily Smiley (Jeff) of San Bruno CA, Eric, Kelly and Lee Bailey of Greensboro
NC, and Andrea Bailey of Campbell CA; grandchildren Fender Kent, Anna
and Cayden Curtiss, Montgomery Radonovich and Savannah Smiley. Memorial
donations in memory of Walter may be sent to: Jubilee
Christian Ministries, 143 Blue Bell Road, Greensboro, NC, 27406
or to Families at the Dump
(F.A.D.), c/o BLC Enterprises, 23792 Rockfield, Suite #250, Lake Forest,
CA 92630. Walter was an active and respected member of The Vineyard
Christian Fellowship of Sacramento, a member of the Davis Flying Club
and devoted husband and father. WD, Walt, Wally, Walter: you are loved
and remembered by so many. We will miss your strong and quiet presence,
your willing help to us all, your smile, your energy, your joyous singing,
your love of your family -- and your cigars! (Martha Curtiss Bunce, sister, Tim Davidson, Dick Covey, Craig Baer,
and Skip Penny, '70)
It
is with deep regret and sadness that we announce the passing of our
classmate Wally Curtiss. Walter "Wally" D. Curtiss, died at
home, Tuesday, March 4, 2008 from cancer. Services were held at the
Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 2225 19th Street, Sacramento, CA. There
will be a gravesite service at the Academy Cemetary on October 2, 2008
at 1000. Walter Dallas Curtiss was born in Findlay, Ohio on October
21, 1945. He was the third of four children of an Air Force family,
and his parents and sister siblings knew him at home as “WD.”
As a member of a military family, WD traveled with his family throughout
the US and lived in Japan as a child. The family moved to Beale Air
Force in the summer of 1959 and he attended Gray Avenue and Yuba City
High Schools. Known as Walt by his classmates at Yuba City High School,
he lettered in football and wrestling and was elected class president
and Student Body President. He was also an Eagle Scout and a member
of the Beale Air Force Base Junior Rifle Team. In 1963, at the end of
his junior year, he was appointed to the US Air Force Academy, but declined
in order to graduate with his high school class. He entered USAFA from
Yuba City, California in 1964 while his father was assigned to Beale
AFB. Shortly after arriving at the zoo, "WD" became Wally,
and for all of us, that is the name that stuck during our time together
on campus. While he was at the Academy, Wally was an Astro major and
was in 14th Squadron for two years, 12th Squadron for one year, and
graduated DG from 27th Squadron, where he served as the Cadet Squadron
Commander. Upon graduation, he linked up with Dick Covey, Craig Baer,
and Dale Oderman as roommates at Purdue for a Masters in Aero and Astro.
Seeking fun and adventure when they weren't cracking the books, Wally
and his roommates chipped in on a small ski boat that they dragged up
to mountain lakes on weekends for sport and relaxation. After completing
an accelerated Masters program, Wally went to Williams AFB for pilot
training and then into OV-10s for a combat tour in Southeast Asia, where
he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and twelve Air Medals
for his heroism. Following his stint in Vietnam, he served for a couple
of years at Reese AFB as an instructor pilot and then separated from
the Air Force in 1975. Remaining in Lubbock, Texas, he earned a Masters
in Business Administration Texas Tech in 1977, and then went to work
for Bell Labs. After several years with Bell, he established his own
consulting business as a career project management professional. In
addition to precious time spent with his family and church, Wally continued
to fly as a private pilot and he enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping, and
hunting. In mid-2007, he was diagnosed with sarcoma and he underwent
surgery in February 2008. With the cancer in an advanced state, he was
unable to recover and died in his home on March 4, 2008. Walter was
a devout Christian, drawing on his faith throughout his illness. His
ashes will be buried at the US Air Force Academy, Colorado. Walter was
preceded in death by his father Colonel (Ret.) Philip H. Curtiss and
mother Eleanor Moorhead Curtiss. His is survived by his wife Emma Jane
Curtiss; his sisters Priscilla Curtiss Dwyer (Jim) of San Francisco,
Martha Curtiss Bunce (Craig Hall) of Marysville, and Jane Curtiss Penny
(Robert) of Phoenix; his children China Curtiss Kent (Seth) and Verity
Curtiss of Denver, Joshua and Ian Curtiss of Phoenix; his step children
Emily Smiley (Jeff) of San Bruno CA, Eric, Kelly and Lee Bailey of Greensboro
NC, and Andrea Bailey of Campbell CA; grandchildren Fender Kent, Anna
and Cayden Curtiss, Montgomery Radonovich and Savannah Smiley. Memorial
donations in memory of Walter may be sent to: 
