Wilbur Arthur Curry, 93, of West College Corner, died Sunday, March 8th at Sterling House in Richmond.
Wilbur was born in Franklin County on September 23, 1921, to Arthur and Jennie “Lois” Watkins Curry. He graduated from Brookville High School in 1942 and furthered his education at a Colorado machine shop school. Wilbur’s employment included McQuay Norris Company in Connersville, Arthur Davis Grocery in Liberty, and 37 years with the Kroger Company where he received the B.H. Kroger Award for Outstanding Community Service in the Cincinnati/Dayton Marketing Area.
Wilbur was a 70 year member of the College Corner United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School; a 66 year member of College Corner Community Club serving as president, secretary, and treasurer; and a member of Fairfield Masonic Lodge. He became the high school basketball scorekeeper at College Corner in 1943, and continued to keep score, time, or statistics for area high school teams for a total of 67 years and served as the official timer for the 1A, 2A, and 3A Ohio State Finals in 1969. Wilbur kept the scorebook for middle school girls and boys teams and freshmen boys, and was the official timer for Union County High School football games for many years. Wilbur was inducted into Union County High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, and was the Recipient of the District IV Distinguished Service Award presented by the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He was one of the first inductees into the Preble County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Wilbur was a 27 year Cub Scout leader; Cub Scout Committee Chairman; past member of the Boy Scout Board and Recipient of the Outstanding District Award of Merit for 25 years of service to Pack 985 by the Dan Beard Council of Boy Scouts in 1992. He was an eight year member of the Union County School Board; a school bus driver for 12 years, and coached Little League Baseball where he served as president of the Little League Advisory Board. He served on the Union County Chapter of the American Cancer Society. Wilbur was a member of the Union County Council on Aging, serving as the president of the board of directors in Liberty, also holding positions as a member of the finance committee, steering committee for housing, and the executive committee. As a member of Area 9 Agency Advisory Council, he represented the Union County Council on Aging and Aged.
In 1993, Wilbur was named Older Hoosier of the Year by Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration’s Aging/In-Home Services Section. He was honored for 30 years of service to the Area 9 Agency and Union County Council on Aging and Aged. Wilbur enjoyed working as a second grade volunteer aide at College Corner Elementary School where he shared historical stories with the students.
In 1993 the Union County High School football field was named the Curry Phenis Field. Later the basketball court in UCHS Gymnasium was named the Wilbur A. Curry Court.
At the age of 92, Wilbur was presented Indiana’s highest award, the Sagamore of the Wabash.
Wilbur loved God, family, church, and community and showed it every day of his life.
Wilbur is survived by a son: Chet Curry and his wife Nancy of Evergreen, Colorado; and a daughter: Brenda Nortrup and her husband Kevin of Fairland, IN; a brother: Larry Curry and his wife Dorothy of Connersville; and a sister: Helen Greeson and husband Tom of Williamsburg; five granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to Geneva, his wife of 57 years who died December 4, 2003, he was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Laura Faye; and two brothers: Nelson and James Curry.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14th, at the College Corner United Methodist Church with Rev. Mick Miller and Rev. Tom Curry officiating. Interment will follow in College Corner Cemetery. Friends may visit from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13th at the Union County High School Gymnasium in Liberty or from 10:00 a.m. till time of service Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Union County Foundation in honor of Wilbur and Geneva Curry or College Corner United Methodist Church. Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Fosdick Chapel, in Liberty is assisting the family with the arrangements. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.