Lt. Col. John Dorish Curtis Sr.

John D. Curtis Sr., 81, of Birmingham, AL, died Sunday, May 4, 2014. He was born to the late A.B. Curtis and Ida Corbin Curtis on December 15, 1932 in Double Springs, AL. John graduated from Winston County High School and Florence State (now the University of North Alabama). He worked for the Berry Company in Birmingham for 34 years and served in the U.S. Army and later the Alabama National Guard for a total of 38 years. He retired in 1992 a Lieutenant Colonel. John will be remembered as a Master Gardener, as a die-hard Alabama football fan, and as a friend, but mostly he will be remembered as a beloved father. Survivors include John's two children, Dr. John D. Curtis Jr. (Jane Jackson Curtis) of Vestavia Hills, AL and Katy Curtis Olienyk (Ron Olienyk) of Prattville, AL; four grandchildren, Chris Curtis and Caitlin Curtis of Vestavia Hills, and Andrew Edwards and Hannah Edwards of Prattville; and a sister, Willie Curtis Howell (Tucker Howell) of Haleyville, AL. Visitation will be 11-12 noon Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL, followed by the Celebration of John's Life from 12-12:30 p.m. Also on Wednesday, the graveside service will be at 2 p.m. at Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to a charity of your choice.