Person Page 4,828

Biographical Sketch -- (by his daughter Alice):

Elwood Verne Curry was born 25 Dec 1927, in Sterling, Ill. He attended grade school in Prophetstown, Ill. In 4th grade he entered the manual arts program where he used many tools. He built an airplane in his backyard but never got a motor on it. It was a 2-seat tandem model, much like a Ryan STA. (His father had built him a single place biplane with a 2x4 for a propeller and wagon wheels for the landing gear. During the 5th and 6th grade he developed an interest in radios. The principal of his school, a ham operator, fixed him up with a code oscillator, key, and headphones in order to learn Morse Code.

In 7th and 8th grade he learned to play the Hawaiian Guitar. In the summer of 1944 he had his first airplane ride. A.B. Thompson took him and his friends, Charles Lindberg and Douglas Conrad up from the Sterling Airport. In order to get this ride, they had to wash the entire airplane and gas it up from 5 gallon milk pails. He began flight lessons June 16, 1944 and soloed in Aug 1944. He worked a paper route, at a bowling alley, and as usher in the local movie theater, where he was promoted to projectionist. He worked there until he graduated from High School in 1945. He earned $12 a week, spent $10 on flying lessons and lived on the remaining $2, which was adequate in those days. He also studied photography, doing his own developing, enlarging and tinting. He started working at Sterling Airport his Junior year. He sold his guitar and amplifier one year to buy Christmas presents. He worked through the winter for Scott Electric in Prophetstown, doing residential and farm wiring while waiting to be drafted for WWII. He enlisted, served stateside in the Army, and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1947 he started Airframe and Powerplant School in Galesburg and graduated in Nov 5, 1948.

Verne married Alice D. Dickey (b.25 April 1927) on 15 Feb 1948 at the home of her parents in Clinton, Ill. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters.

He was also working to achieve his commercial airplane pilot rating during that time. He built his hours in an Aeronca Champ. He worked at airports ever since. During that time he worked for Bun Austin Chevrolet in Sterling, Roberts Ford in Dixon, and William's Auto Body in Rock Falls. His real love was the small airplanes and the people that flew them. He worked at Clinton, Prophetstown, Sterling, and Rock Falls Airports in Illinois. He worked at Michigan City, IN, for 3 years, and then to New Buffalo, MI. In 1964, he moved to Savanna, Ill, to operate the airport there, then to Freeport, Ill in 1968.

He quit Rockford in 1981, married again (Jo), and moved to Leaf River, Ill., where he went into business for himself. He worked out of a hanger at Mt. Morris and then at a small field owned by his friend Nick Lung. At age 62 he semi-retired due to painful arthritis in his hands.

Verne died 18 June 2016 in Byron, Ill. His obituary stated that his career in the aviation industry spanned over 50 years, as an active and enthusiastic supporter of general aviation across northern Illinois. His drive elevated him to the level of master instructor and craftsman.

He was survived by his (2nd) wife,(Jo), his 3 children, 2 step-children, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Obituary -- source unknown:

Robert Warren Curry was b.23 Oct 1933 in Prophetstown, Ill. He moved to Rockford, Ill in 1958, where he worked as a carpenter and handyman. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of Liberty in the Spirit Church.

Robert married Susan M. Davis on 17 Aug 1991. They had 6 sons and 4 daughters. Robert died 18 Mar 2016 in Rockford, Ill., age 82.

At his death those who survived were: his wife; 6 sons, Brian Curry, Dale (late Cindy) Curry, Craig (Debbie) Curry, Kelly (Angelique) Curry, Keith (Dawn) Curry, and John (Laura Quintanilla)Davis; 4 daughters, Debbie (Matt) Brown, Lori Curry, Joanna (Tim) Schultes, Angela (Matt Howes) Davis; brother, Verne (Jo) Curry; mother of children, Mavis Curry; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert Warren was predeceased by his parents, Warren R. and Laura Curry; brother Loyal Curry; grandparents, and many aunts and uncles. Cremation rites accorded.

Morning Star, Rockford, Illinois; Tuesday, 29 MAY 1962, p.2 (Genealogybank.com):

File for Bankruptcy

Robert W. Curry, 1615 Loomis St., voluntary, liabilities, $2,813.77, assets $423.

Register-Republic, Rockford, Illinois; Friday, 7 DEC 1962, p.4 (Genealogybank.com):

Police Court

...

Robert W. Curry, 28, 406 Independence Ave., improper left turn, forfeited $5.

...

Obituary -- (by her daughter Alice):

Alice C. Dickey was b. 25 Apr 1927 in Lincoln, Ill. She graduated in 1945 from Clinton High School in Clinton, Ill. She attended Ill. Wesleyan University and Illinois State University in Normal, majoring in music. After marrying Verne on 15 Feb 1948 she taught grade school at the former Emerson Grade School and the former Central School in Sterling, Ill. A talented pianist and organist, Alice was a private piano and organ teacher for more than 50 years. She was a member and organist of the former Community Church of Christ in Rock Falls from 1978 until the church closed in Oct 2010. She also had a motor route for 37 years for the Rockford Register Star.

Alice D. Curry died 25 June 2018 at Regency Care of Sterling, Ill., after an extended illness.

She was survived by one son, Warren Wayne Curry of Garland, Texas; 2 daughters, Mrs. Kathryn A. (Jack) Kime of Maryville and Alice C. Curry of Sterling; 4 grandchildren, Orv Evan Curry of Fort Myers, Fla, Val Curry of Garland, Texas, Michael Kime of Maryville, and Christina Kime of Dahlonega, Georgia; and 2 great-grandchildren, Evan Garrett Curry and Stella K. Curry of Fort Myers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Robert Wayne Dickey; and one son, Allan Verne Curry.

Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of cremains will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Clinton, Ill.

Obituary --

Allan Verne Curry b.14 June 1952 in Sterling, Ill. He was a member of The Special Olympic Team. He worked at Kreider Services in Dixon, Ill. Allan died 20 Feb 1995 at his home following an extended illness. He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton, Ill.

He was survived by his father of Leaf River, his mother of Sterling; one brother, Warren Wayne Curry of Garland, Tex; 2 sisters, Mrs. Jack (Kathryn) Kime of Collinsville, Ill., and Alice C. Curry of Sterling; his maternal grandfather, A.W. Dickey of Eureka, Mo., 3 nephews; one niece; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents (Warren Reilly Curry and Laura Nuelle Curry), his maternal grandmother and one cousin.

News-Record, Neenah, Wisconsin; Saturday, 3 JUL 1948, p.1 (Newspapers.com):

Church Scene of First Wedding in 113 Years

Galesburg, Ill. -- (U.P.) -- A quaint little church near here was the scene of a wedding for the first time in its 113-year history.

Wedding bells rang yesterday for Donald K. McClanahan and his bride, Mayre E. Glenn, at the old South Presbyterian church on the outskirts of Biggsville, Ill. The church had never before been the scene of a wedding.

The Rev. Charles Mann, a former Biggsville minister, returned from his present home in Waukesha, Wis., to perform the ceremony. The church's United Presbyterian congregation disbanded several years ago.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Donald Keith McClanahan, 89, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He was born Feb. 16, 1927, in Chillicothe, Illinois, the only son of Robert and Margaret Miller of Gladstone, Illinois. On June 28, 1948, he married Mayre Glenn of Biggsville, Illinois.

Don served 20 years in the Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force in both active and reserve status and served during World War II and the Korean Conflict, where he was a heavy construction machine operator. Don's other occupations while living in Henderson County included being the first bus driver Biggsville High School hired in 1948, farming, managing a gas station and heavy equipment operator with JI Case. He also worked in the Soil and Water Conservation Service.

His hobbies included gardening and bowling, and he continued those hobbies after moving from Illinois to Las Cruces in 1968. After moving to New Mexico, Don went back to school and earned his master's degree from NMSU in engineering and was the design engineer for the Navajo Irrigation Project near Farmington, New Mexico, and the Brantley Dam Project near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Don intermittently lived in Las Cruces from1968, and after retiring returned to Las Cruces, which he and his wife always considered home. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include four sons, Steven (Linda) McClanahan of Cincinnati, Ohio, Michael McClanahan of Las Cruces, David McClanahan of Farmington, and Glenn (Sandy) McClanahan of Biggsville; two daughters, Donna Holcombe of Farmington, and Debra (Tom) Selisky of Los Lunas, New Mexico; 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by both his parents; his wife; his youngest son, James McClanahan; and a great-grandson James Selisky.

Graveside services will be at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on

Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Disabled American Veterans at dav.org, or a local VFW post. Donations will also be accepted to help offset the costs for transportation of Don from Albuquerque to El Paso. They can be sent in honor of Donald McClanahan to Shirley Kane, RR1 Box 106, Biggsville, Illinois, 61418 or Debra Selisky, 10 Winston Ct., Los Lunas, NM 87031.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Arrangements are with Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave Las Cruces NM 88001.

News-Record, Neenah, Wisconsin; Saturday, 3 JUL 1948, p.1 (Newspapers.com):

Church Scene of First Wedding in 113 Years

Galesburg, Ill. -- (U.P.) -- A quaint little church near here was the scene of a wedding for the first time in its 113-year history.

Wedding bells rang yesterday for Donald K. McClanahan and his bride, Mayre E. Glenn, at the old South Presbyterian church on the outskirts of Biggsville, Ill. The church had never before been the scene of a wedding.

The Rev. Charles Mann, a former Biggsville minister, returned from his present home in Waukesha, Wis., to perform the ceremony. The church's United Presbyterian congregation disbanded several years ago.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Mayre E. McClanahan, 83, of Las Cruces, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Las Cruces. She was born April 1, 1926, in Henderson County, Ill., to Robert and Beth Whiteman Glenn.

Mayre had been a retired Registered Nurse, working at the old Memorial General Hospital in Las Cruces. She helped them move to the now Memorial Medical Center. She also worked for many years of faithful service at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington.

She was proud of being a nurse and had a passion for working in the O.B.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Mayre is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Donald K. McClanahan of the family home; sons, James and wife, Jennifer, of San Antonio, Texas, Steven and wife, Linda, of Columbus, Ohio, Michael of Las Cruces, David of Aztec and Glenn and wife, Sandy, of Biggsville, Ill.; daughters, Donna Holcombe of Bloomfield and Debra Selisky and husband, Thomas, of Las Lunas. She also is survived by her sisters, Mildred Anderson and husband, Dale, of Stronghurst, Ill., and Elizabeth Speer and husband, Gordon, of Sterling, Ill., and by 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life was Thursday, Oct. 22, at The First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Norm Story officiated.

Interment followed at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Published in the Farmington Daily Times on 11/4/2009.