S. Curtis (Curt) Youngblood died on May 7, 2024, at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, NC. He was 98. Formerly of Greensboro, NC, he was born in Tampa, FL. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, he enrolled in UNC Chapel Hill. After his freshman year, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II as a radioman on the USS Chicago. His ship participated in the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay in August 1945. He returned to UNC in 1946 and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in business. In later years, he loved returning nearly annually to the Carolina campus for alumni events and for reunions with his beloved ATO brothers.
In 1951, Curt married Mary (Sam) Johnson of Concord, NC. They had two sons, Joe and Dick. He joined Southern Bell Telephone Company in 1954, becoming District Manager in Charlotte, and after transferring to Greensboro in 1962, worked in public relations for many years. He retired from Southern Bell in 1988 to take care of Sam, whom he lost to cancer two years later. In 2000, he married Kay Henson, a long-time resident of Greensboro (deceased 2009). Curt was a long-time member of West Market Street Methodist Church, and then joined Kay as a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Curt approached life with a deep, abiding curiosity and passionately followed many activities and interests during his long life. He was an avid gardener, golfer, tennis player, fisherman, jazz music devotee, amateur radio operator, and Civitan Club member. With these pursuits he formed life-long friendships that he cherished across the Piedmont and beyond. He was happy tending a large garden at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and became a Master Gardener, to help novice gardeners plan and cultivate their own plots. He loved playing spirited golf matches with brother-in-law Walter ("Unc") and was a member of two Monday foursomes at Country Hills in Gibsonville for many years. With a core group of fishing buddies, he made memorable trips to the waters around Belhaven, NC, and throughout Currituck Sound. Later he passed on his fishing expertise to his grandson who became an avid fisherman himself. With paper route money, he bought his first trumpet, which blossomed into a life-long passion, playing and listening to jazz music. He attended many jazz concerts, including for many years the NC Jazz Festival in Wilmington. He knew the lyrics to hundreds of jazz tunes and would sing and whistle this repertoire night and day. Spurred by his radio communications work in the Navy and a life-time interest in electronics, Curt acquired his amateur radio license in 1968 (call sign WB4LMH) and loved connecting via Morse Code or voice with other "hams" around world. He retired from ham radio in 2018 when he moved to Abbotswood senior living community in Greensboro. Since 1962, he was a member of the Greensboro Civitan Club, and reveled in the fellowship the club provided and in working towards the club's common goals as stated in the Civitan pledge.
Curt loved the North Carolina coast. He spent many joyful summer vacations with extended family at Hop Inn, the family cottage at Carolina Beach, NC. During those vacations, he liked nothing better than to romp in the ocean with sons, nieces and nephews, eat great Southern food lovingly prepared by in-laws, and lead the family in evening sing-alongs on the porch overlooking the sea. He also didn't begrudge sitting in as a fourth for his wife's family's many bridge games.
Curt was a caring family man and friend, loving and kind to many, and was ready to assist anyone in need. He was frugal yet generous in ways that truly helped others. He believed in keeping on the sunny side, with a wide grin and hearty laugh, and ever ready to "go along with the crowd" with whatever was in store. He took life one day at a time even when faced with the challenges of aging later in his life. He worshiped family and friends and loved nothing more than to relax with them, listen, learn, swap funny stories and laugh.
Curt was predeceased by parents Joseph Lattimore Youngblood, who died when he was 10, and Katherine Curtis Youngblood---who as a single mom raised Curt, and with his help raised sister Kay Densmore (deceased)--and wives Sam Youngblood and Kay Youngblood. He is survived by his beloved cat Fluffy Youngblood, and sons Joseph Curtis Youngblood of Carolina Beach, NC, and Richard Scholl Youngblood (Helen) of Durham, NC; granddaughter Lydia Anna Scholl Youngblood of Durham, NC, and grandson Paul Samuel Youngblood of Raleigh, NC. He is also survived by nephews Steve Densmore (Bonnie) of Elkridge, MD, and Brian Densmore of Los Angeles, CA, and nieces Kim Densmore of Phoenix, AZ, and Lin Densmore of Eureka Springs, AK; sister-in-law Ann Johnson of Bethesda, MD, nephew Richard Johnson (Laurie) of Potomac Falls, VA, and niece Katy Greco (David) of Dublin, Ireland; stepson Johnny Gregory of Greensboro, NC, and stepdaughter Lou Moeller (Mark) of Boulder, CO; two step-grandchildren, three grand nephews, two grand nieces, and other extended family and friends. All will dearly miss him.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, 617 North Elm Street, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. followed by a visitation in the Virginia Gilmer Room.
If you wish to make a donation in Curt's memory, please send to United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405, unitedwaygso.org or Greensboro Urban Ministry, 305 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27406, greensborourbanministry.org
Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Youngblood with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com
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