James Aloysius Curtis, Jr.

James A. Curtis, Jr.
Obituary April 17, 2022

James Aloysius Curtis, Jr. (Major, USAF retired) passed peacefully on April 11, 2022 at the age of 86. He was the beloved husband of Mary Curtis and devoted father of James A. Curtis, III, (deceased) (Shari), Lisa C. Bowler, (Ted), Phillip B. Curtis, Sr. (Glenda) Leslie A.C. Weldon, (Michael), Lynne M. Curtis, and Mark V. Curtis, Sr. He is survived by sister Mary Aranha (Fred), thirteen grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and a host of dear relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Sylvia, oldest son James, oldest granddaughter, Ashleigh, and sisters, Teresa and Barbara Anne.

James Aloysius Curtis, Jr. was born on November 2, 1935 in Washington, DC. He is the oldest son of James Aloysius and Elizabeth May Curtis. He grew up in Washington, DC where he attended public school and graduated from Dunbar High School in 1953. He was raised in the Roman Catholic faith and attended St. Vincent de Paul church with his family. His deep faith in the love of Jesus Christ and the sacraments of the Church enriched and shaped his entire life. This faith he transmitted to his family and everyone around him.

After high school James attended Miner Teacher college where he met his first wife, Sylvia Elizabeth Jackson. After two years of friendship and courting, they were married on March 17, 1956. During this time James enlisted in the United States Air Force. As an aspiring young airman in the recently desegregated Air Force, James completed Officer’s Candidate School and earned his Bachelor’s degree. He received his Master’s Degrees in Logistics and Transportation studies from Washington State University in 1962. James completed numerous assignments as he and Sylvia raised their six children. The family lived on air bases in Arkansas, Alaska, Washington State, Nevada, and Ohio. In 1967 James served a one-year assignment in Thailand and after which his family joined him for a four-year assignment at Tachikawa Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan.

In 1972 the family returned to the Washington, DC Area and settled in Prince George’s County Maryland where James completed a final assignment at Bolling Air Force Base where he achieved the rank of Major. In 1975, James retired from the U.S. Air Force after enjoying 21 years of service. He credited his Air Force experience as foundational to his life.

James worked an additional 8 years for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools system in the Pentagon before resigning from federal service. He then turned his full attention to managing his many rental properties and selling real estate. He and Sylvia enjoyed many activities with their close friends, traveling to visit their grandchildren. They shared a fondness for cruise ship voyages.

James was very active at St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and over the years served on the Parish Council and as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, gospel choir member, and coordinator of the Bereavement Committee. James and Sylvia deepened their journey of faith through the Neocatechumenal Way, a charism within the Catholic Church dedicated to Christian formation. They entered the first Neocatechumenal Community at St. Thomas More Parish in 1988. Their experience of the love and mercy of Jesus Christ through the Word of God, the reception of the Sacraments and fellowship of Community strengthened their marriage and family. James walked with the first Community for 34 years. He served as a Responsible and Catechist, who out of gratitude gave witness to the love of God to others.

Following the passing of Sylvia in 2006 James met and married Mary Towles Taylor of Bowie, MD in July, 2009. Mary brought much joy and companionship to his life. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with her children, Dewayne and Tiffany, grandchildren, Lara and Trent and great grandson, Carter.

“Curt” was a loving husband and father. “Allie” was a devoted son and brother. “Jim” was a great friend, and brother, “Grandaddy” and “Uncle Curtis” cared deeply for his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He will be remembered for his good counsel, gentleness, generosity, loyalty to family and friends and, most importantly, as a faithful servant to our Lord.