Colonel Philip E. Curtis

COLONEL CURTIS, Colonel Philip E., 92, SAN ANTONIO, TX & PRESQUE ISLE, January 29, 2011. Services will be held Thursday, February 3, 2011, at Porter Loring North Chapel, Texas. Arrangements are in the care of Porter-Loring Funeral Home, Texas.

Colonel Philip E. Curtis, age 92, of San Antonio, Texas, died Saturday, January 29, 2011, after a brief illness. He was born in Presque Isle, May 26, 1918, the son of Benjamin A. and Hope A. Curtis. He was educated in the Presque Isle schools and the University of Maine, where he played on the varsity football and basketball teams.

Colonel Curtis served 30 years with the armed forces of the United States. For two years, he was an officer in the First Infantry Division, U.S. Army, and for 28 years, he served in the U.S. Air Forces. He flew in the European Theatre of Operations during WWII, and served 14 years in the Strategic Air Command (SAC), one tour of which was as Base Commander at Loring Air Force Base, which was 14 miles from his boyhood farm. At the end of his military career, he took up residence in San Antonio and was employed by the United Services Automobile Association (USAA). He was a member, elder, and worker at Christ Fellowship Church. For twenty years, he was on the associate staff and South Texas Area Chairman of the Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC) of the USA, Headquarters Chattanooga, TN.

He was preceded in death by Julia, his wife and companion of 64 years, who traveled with him to many places.

Survivors include a son and his wife, retired USMC fighter pilot Dr. Ronald J. and Ryuko Curtis of Beaufort, SC; a brother, Ben A. Curtis of Lewiston, ME; a sister, Joan Michaud and her husband, Philip Michaud of Presque Isle. There are also a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be held Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 12 p.m., at Porter Loring North Chapel with Reverend Floyd Lewis officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Fellowship Church, 5440 Vance Jackson Rd., San Antonio, TX 78230, or National Christian Business Men’s Committee of USA, 1800 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404.

Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary, 2102 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232. Online condolences at www.porterloring.com