Henry MacDonald Curl

Henry MacDonald (Don), 93, of Galena, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at St. Ann’s Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born in Columbus on May 28, 1916 to James G. and Bloom (Parrett) Curl. Don was a consulting engineer, operating Ralph & Curl Engineers of Columbus, which he co-founded in 1950. Prior to that, he was an aircraft engineer at Curtis-Wright during World War II. Don went to North High School and graduated from The Ohio State University. While at OSU, he was a four year member of the OSU Marching Band (TBDBITL). He was in the first performance of the famous script Ohio and dotted the “I” on one occasion. He was in the Alumni OSU Marching Band from its inception, playing his trumpet and marching through his 91st year. He had his own dance band which played for Columbus events for nearly 70 years and he also played in several Shrine bands. Don was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Mary Ruth (O’Reilly) Curl; oldest son, James E. Curl; parents; step-mother, Mary (Minor) Curl; and brother, James G. (Whitey) Curl, who was killed in WWII in the skies over Germany. Curl Drive on the Ohio State campus is named in his honor. Surviving him are his sons, Richard M. (Naomi) Curl, Robert D. (Janet) Curl, and Joseph P. (Deborah-deceased) Curl, all of whom live in the metropolitan Columbus area; grandchildren, Vicki (Jason) Nash, Donna (Rick) Blanch, Jennifer (Nick Hannum), Camille, Robert Jr., Christopher, and Sarah Curl, all of Columbus, and Elizabeth (Tracy) Reep, of Grand Prairie, TX; step-granddaughter, Amy (James) Casey, of Elkhorn City, KY; great-grandson, Brendan; step great-grandchildren, Joshua, Natasha, and Brittany; sister-in-law, Dorothy Meeks, of Portland, OR; daughter-in-law, Mary Curl, of TX, and special cousin, Ada May Burke, of Circleville. Don was a member of several professional engineering societies, the Alladin Shrine, Lions, the OSU Presidents Club, and Script Ohio Club. He was Scout Master in Boy Scouts, Troop 166, Bexley, OH. Don always enjoyed the outdoors and his family traveled in the western states, climbing mountains and hiking. Funeral services will be held 11am Monday, November 2, 2009 at SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL, 6699 N. High St. Worthington, OH, Fr. James Ogurchock, officiating. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from 2-4pm and 6-8pm, where there will be a Masonic service at 7:30pm conducted by the Neoacacia Lodge #595. Interment in Forest Cemetery, Circleville, OH. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s honor to The Script Ohio Club, P.O. Box 14769, Columbus, OH 43214. To offer condolences to Don’s family visit www.schoedinger.com.