David G. Curtis

Jul 25, 1935 -

Jun 21, 2024

David Glen Curtis, 88 years and 11 months old, passed peacefully at home in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, June 21, 2024. His children and family were by his side at the time of his passing.

David Glen and his twin brother Harold Alan were born in Sheridan, Wyo., on July 25, 1935, to Harold and Aileen Curtis. His father wanted to move to "God's country" after hearing of the fabulous hunting and fishing. So the family moved to Alaska in 1940; the twins were almost 5 years old and their sister Nancy was 6 years old. His mother Aileen wrote a story about the family moving to Alaska and their adventures in Hope, Alaska.

He met the love of his life, Marietta Peterson-Curtis, and they married on Nov. 22, 1954. They were married for 54 years when Marietta "Etta" passed in 2010. The two of them enjoyed family, friends, playing cards, games, fishing and flying places, so they could go fishing.

David "Dave" called Alaska home for a total of 77 years. He lived in Hope, Anchorage, Homer, Kenai, Valdez, Soldotna and Palmer. He moved outside to Sequim, Wash., to experience nicer weather for seven years, 2012-2019, but he missed family and friends and returned to Alaska.

When Dave was a young man, he started working for Larry Carr, the owner of Carrs Grocery as a box boy but soon worked into all aspects of the grocery business, produce, butcher and management. He managed both Carrs and Eagle grocery stores in Anchorage, Kenai and Valdez. He worked for Carrs and Eagle groceries for a total of 34 years. He even leased a grocery store in Homer, the Kachemak Food Cache and operated it for five years. While living in Valdez, he decided to retire from the grocery business and purchased the Last Frontier Gallery. He operated the gift shop and did custom framing. After retirement, Dave and Etta moved to Soldotna and he continued to do custom framing.

Flying airplanes was one of Dave's favorite hobbies. He owned and operated a number of small planes over the years. He served on the Civil Air Patrol in both Kenai and Valdez. He also loved to go hunting by boat, hiking, plane and horseback. Dave was known for his easy going personality, a good example to all, for being extremely fair-minded and dedicated to his family.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Aileen Curtis; wife, Marietta Curtis; brother, Harold Alan Curtis; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Maurice Fitzhugh; and son-in-law, Ronald Cuthbert.

David is survived by his daughter, Diana Cuthbert of Palmer; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Duane Edelman of Kenai; son, David Brian Curtis of Anchorage; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Curtis; grandchildren, Anna Nelson, Steffen Schultz, John Schultz, Donald Schultz, Jeremiah Black, Mary Pauline Porritt, David Black, Justin Edelman, Harriet Edelman, Aileen Curtis and Michael Curtis; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held on July 26, 2024, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., at the Alaska Airmen's Association, 4200 Floatplane Drive in Anchorage.

At a later date, David will be placed alongside his wife Marietta at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery in Anchorage.