Thomas Jerry & Terry Frances Curtis

Thomas J. Curtis, age 92, of Temple, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025. A memorial celebration of life will be held September 19, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Taylor's Valley Baptist Church followed by interment of ashes at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.

Jerry was born August 24, 1932 in Teague, Texas, the ninth child of Thomas Oliver and Emily Parazade (Paddie) Howell Curtis. He enjoyed farm life until age 10 when the family relocated to Houston, Texas.

Jerry graduated high school in Galena Park, Texas in 1950 and enrolled as a day student at The University of Houston. After two years at the University of Houston he discovered the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Program, tested and was accepted for pilot training. He received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in J954 and was assigned to the 17th Air Rescue Squadron, Ellington AFB, Houston, Texas where he flew the SA16 and later the A19. In 1956 he was posted to the Air Training Command at Ellington and flew the T29 A, B, & C as Instructor and Flight Examiner.

He transferred to Mather AFB, California where he continued the Navigator Training Mission. In 1959 he was reassigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing in Germany with duty as a Simulated Missile pilot flying the T33 single engine jet.

In 1962 he returned stateside to England AFB, Louisiana with duty as Local Base Rescue Detachment Commander. In April 1965, he joined the Vietnam war effort as a Combat Rescue pilot. On September 20, 1965 while attempting rescue of a F105 pilot on the ground in North Vietnam, his helicopter was shot down. After a short evasion, he and his crew plus the fighter pilot were captured. This resulted in 2,703 days endured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam culminating in release to American control on February 12, 1973.

After release and return to his family in Alexandria, Louisiana, he attended the USAF War College in Montgomery, Alabama with subsequent assignment to the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing in Ogden, Utah, home of the Air Force Helicopter School, as Director of Operations. In 1975, the school moved to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico where he served until October 1977 and entered retirement. He returned to Texas and pursued his retirement goal of becoming a teacher in public education, retiring after 16 years as a World Geography and Spanish Instructor.

Jerry was predeceased by the love of his life, Terry. He is survived by son Tom and wife Jeanette Curtis, daughter Lori Curtis Pomroy, grandchildren Judson Curtis, Charlie Pomroy and Taylor Curtis Lichtenberger, great-grandchildren Bonham Wade Curtis, Lennon Micah Pomroy, Joley Sue Lichtenberger, Levi Curtis Pomroy, and three generations of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials in honor of Jerry be directed to Taylor's Valley Baptist Church, 2497 W. Hwy 93 Temple, TX 76502.

Terry Frances Stringer Curtis was born January 1, 1938 in Hamlin, Texas to Eileen Sheid Stringer and Vernon T. “Nig" Stringer. Her early years were spent in California where Nig‘s work took them. Terry was 11 years old when Nig and Eileen made their home on the east side of Houston and joined Uvalde Baptist Church. Terry graduated from Galena Park High School in May, 1956 and began her first semester of college in the Fall. Later that year she was introduced to Air Force Second Lieutenant Thomas Jerry Curtis who was stationed at Ellington AFB, Texas. The die was cast for a lifelong mutual love story that lasted 68 years and three months. Terry and Jerry were married at Uvalde Baptist Church on April 12, 1957. Their son Thomas Vernon Curtis was born on February 22, 1958 while they were stationed at Ellington AFB. She was a wife and a mother, everything she wanted.

From Ellington the new family was posted to Mather AFB in Sacramento for 18 months, and then to Germany until October 1962. In Germany Terry and Jerry and Tommy welcomed Lori Eileen Curtis, born May 11, 1961 in Laudstuhl, Germany. Terry loved the adventure of being an Air Force wife, and she once said that life felt too good to be true. In October 1962 their next home became England AFB in Alexandria, Louisiana. She never tired of decorating new homes and making them ready to welcome family and friends. They made great friends and enjoyed their time in Alexandria.

Terry was always busy being a part of music ministry at every church they joined. She was the organist for many of their church memberships, sang in the choir and loved to sing duets in church with her Dad when the opportunity carne along. Numerous hobbies included shopping, playing cards and games, cooking, camping and fishing with her Dad.

In 1965 Jerry volunteered to be part of Combat Search & Rescue in North Vietnam, and he arrived in Thailand in April of that year. Terry and the kids remained at home in Alexandria. On September 20, 1965 she was informed that his helicopter had been shot down and he and his crew were MIA. Years passed before she knew that he had survived and was in captivity. While her husband was a POW in Vietnam Terry overcame her fear of flying and made trips to Washington, D.C. to aid in efforts to bring the POWs home.

In February 1973 the last remaining prisoners were released. Jerry was welcomed home in Alexandria and Houston by a multitude of family and friends. Jerry went to The Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama and then to Utah to Hill AFB. Their last post was to New Mexico where Jerry retired from military life. They returned to Texas and lived in Bryan, Georgetown and Academy, where Terry worked as a school secretary. They moved to Temple, Texas 22 years ago.

Terry is survived by her son Tom and wife Jeanette Curtis, daughter Lori Curtis Pomroy, grandchildren Judson Curtis, Charlie Pomroy and Taylor Curtis Lichtenberger, great- grandchildren Bonham Wade Curtis, Lennon Micah Pomroy, Joley Sue Lichtenberger, Levi Curtis Pomroy, and three generations of nieces and nephews. Sixteen days later her husband Jerry followed her.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials in honor of Terry be directed to Taylor's Valley Baptist Church, 2497 W. Hwy 93 Temple, TX 76502.