METHUEN – Charles Russell Curtis, Jr. passed away at his home on December 13, 2016, with his devoted children and grandchildren by his side. He was 88 years old.
Born in Lawrence on March 22, 1928, he is the son of the late Charles R. Curtis and the late Wanda (Wrobel) Curtis.
He was educated in Lawrence Schools – Holy Trinity Grammar School, Lawrence High School and Roberts Technical Trade School.
He is a U.S. Army Veteran, serving from 1946 to 1947 and in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1950.
He worked for many local businesses, Tommy Jenkins Service Station, Plymouth Mills, Watertown Arsenal, Improved Machine Co., Hesse-Eastern Division of Norris Thermador Corp., Raytheon, Hudson Bus Lines, Gray Line Inc., Brush Hill Trans., General Battery, Carl Subler Trucking and Preston Trucking from which he retired. He was a long standing member of Teamsters Local Union 25.
He was a member of Holy Trinity Church and St. Mary’s Church in Lawrence, and in later years he was a member of Saint Monica’s Church in Methuen.
Most important in his life was his family – wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Donella Narushof Curtis and
his son Brian C. Curtis.
He is survived by his children, Susan M. Ploude of Thomaston, CT; Patricia M. Curtis of Santa Monica, CA; Thomas C. Curtis and his wife, Diane (Egan) of Methuen, MA. His seven grandchildren who all loved their PopPop dearly – Jason M. Ploude of Medford, OR; Joshua A. Ploude and his fiancé Tiffany Baldwin of Hermosa Beach, CA; Johanna E. Ploude of San Francisco, CA.; Jessica A. Curtis of Methuen, MA; USMC Corporal Thomas B. Curtis of Methuen, MA (currently stationed overseas); NH Army National Guard Sargent Kyle Desroche and his wife Crystal (Warren) of Plaistow, NH; and Ryan Desroche of Methuen, MA. His five great-grandchildren, Elliana Sofia Ploude of Hermosa Beach, CA; Madison Marie Desroche of Plaistow, NH; Bryan Desroche, Hayden Desroche and Jayse Desroche all of Methuen, MA. One sister, Shirley (Curtis) Naczas of Ridgeway, PA; two nieces, Shirley Ann Mello of Ridgeway, PA and Christine Appelloni of Plaistow, NH, as well as many, many cousins.
ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours for family and friends will take place at the Breen Funeral Home, 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA 01841, on Sunday, December 18, 2016 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. The Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 11:00am at Saint Monica’s Church, 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA 01844 followed by burial services at Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.