Charles Lofton Curry's Obituary
Charles Lofton Curry, 98, went home to be with the Lord Friday, April 10th, at Kirby Pines Estates in Memphis, TN.He is survived by his two daughters Ellen Lofton Curry of Memphis and Mary Ann Cope and husband Lee Cope of Clinton, MS, as well as four grandchildren, Elizabeth Cope Rich and husband Mark of Jackson, MS; Susan Cope Fortenberry and husband Brian of Birmingham, AL; Carrie Cope Melton and husband Lawson of Cleveland, MS; and Caleb Lee Cope of Alexandria, LA.; and 2 great grandchildren.Mr. Curry grew up in Key West Florida and received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech. He worked his entire career for the U.S. Corps of Engineers where he served as Chief of the River stabilization section. He planned and designed river work for navigation and flood control, designing revetments, dikes, and dredges. He masterminded a comprehensive plan that would align the river channel for the I-40 Ms River Bridge to open in 1972. In the process the modern day Mud Island was created. The project was detailed in journals and seminars entitled, “Moving the River to Meet a Deadline.” He was a longtime member of the Memphis Engineers Club. Mr. Curry was a World War II veteran serving in England and France. He was a member of the Fifth Engineering Special Brigade and participated in the invasion of Omaha Beach on D-Day. He lived in a German artillery bunker above the beach as he worked for months transitioning supplies for the success of the invasion.Near his 90th birthday he returned to Omaha Beach and was able to locate and enter the bunker and share that experience with his family. He later served as Lt. Col. in the Army Reserves. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Billie Gee Curry. Mr. Curry was baptized into St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Key West, and faithfully attended Union Avenue Baptist Church in Memphis.Visitation will be Monday, April 13th 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday April 14th at Memorial Park Funeral Home.The family requests that memorials be sent to Memphis Humane Society or Union Avenue Baptist Church.
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