In Memory Of
Chester E. Curttright
1926
2014
Chester E. Curttright
July 27, 1926 — December 11, 2014
Chester "Chet" Eugene Curttright, 88, of Topeka passed on December 11, 2014 at Plaza West Retirement Community in Topeka. He was born to Walter and Minnie Curttright in Dunbar Nebraska, July 27th 1926. He was the 10th of 11 children.
His family moved to Nemaha, Nebraska when he was 2 ½ years old. He joined the U.S. Army during WWII, before completing his senior year of high school, but later returned and graduated from Nemaha High School the same year as his younger sister Nellie. He was one of the last of the Mule packers, being trained at Ft. Riley. He was then stationed in the Philippines and Occupied Japan, where he served as a quartermaster sergeant.
When he returned from service overseas, he and his older brother Ray opened a small restaurant in Nemaha. He soon after met Colleen (Keithley) and they were married January 30th, 1949.
This marked the beginning of Chet's enduring commitment to his wife which spanned more than 65 years. Together, they moved to Topeka in 1953. Chet and Colleen purchased their first and only home in 1959 sharing the residence for over 50 years. Chet took much pride in home ownership, spending many hours on yard work to keep their home attractive. The home was damaged in the 1966 tornado, but Chet worked hard to get all back in order and had Old Glory waving by Flag Day. He planted the trees that now tower over the house and shade his beloved front porch where the family enjoyed many glasses of summer sweet tea and visits with neighbors.
Chet was a patient and ever-doting father. Friends of his daughters' were all made to feel welcome at the Curttright home. He spent many a cold winter morning, scraping off his daughters' and wife's windshields and warming up their cars. His goal in life was to make it easier for others. His smile and kind demeanor came so effortlessly.
He was a 55 year member of First United Methodist Church and he taught the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School for over 20 years, loving every minute of sharing God's Word with the little ones. He lived his faith and his values on a daily basis, demonstrating that God, family, and friends are what make a person truly wealthy.
Chet worked at Culligan Soft Water for 35 years, and then joined Lindsay Water Conditioning for another 26 years. He retired in 2010. His work allowed him to interact with people from all walks of life, always finding an opportunity to share a laugh, kind words or even a cup of coffee. He deeply enjoyed his work family.
Because he was a champion at napping, guests coming through his kitchen door often found him lying on the floor in the sunshine, completely comfortable and enjoying a midday snooze. He enjoyed old-time country music, reading westerns, yodeling and swinging his girls up on his shoulders for rides when they were little. He shared his love of military history with his grandsons, sharing stories and taking them to museums. He possessed a legendary love of sweets and enjoyed pancakes at Cracker Barrel and Colleen's homemade pies.
Never believing it was too late to make new friends, he developed many friendships with the caring staff and his tablemates during his two years at Plaza West. He would enter the dining room waving his hand with a smile as he passed by each table. He never went anywhere without his WWII cap given to him by his grandson, Brent. Chet felt honored to take the Honor Flight for WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. in 2011.
He is survived and dearly missed by his wife Colleen; daughters Tiwana (Bruce) Whitten (Topeka) and Dawn (Greg) Taylor (Wichita); grandsons Brent (Rachel) Whitten, Caleb (Kenra) Whitten, Ethan (Rebecca) Whitten, and Jared Whitten; his great-grandson Colter Whitten; his step-grandchildren Brandi Wyer, Dustin Wyer, and Nikki Taylor; and his sister Nellie Grooms.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and six brothers.
His family will celebrate his life with a service in Klasse Chapel at First United Methodist Church, Topeka at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17. Visitation is from 6:00-7:30 on Tuesday, December 16th at Penwell Gabel Southwest.Chapel.
Chester's wishes were that any Memorials may be designated to First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd. 66603 or The Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS. 66675.
His family moved to Nemaha, Nebraska when he was 2 ½ years old. He joined the U.S. Army during WWII, before completing his senior year of high school, but later returned and graduated from Nemaha High School the same year as his younger sister Nellie. He was one of the last of the Mule packers, being trained at Ft. Riley. He was then stationed in the Philippines and Occupied Japan, where he served as a quartermaster sergeant.
When he returned from service overseas, he and his older brother Ray opened a small restaurant in Nemaha. He soon after met Colleen (Keithley) and they were married January 30th, 1949.
This marked the beginning of Chet's enduring commitment to his wife which spanned more than 65 years. Together, they moved to Topeka in 1953. Chet and Colleen purchased their first and only home in 1959 sharing the residence for over 50 years. Chet took much pride in home ownership, spending many hours on yard work to keep their home attractive. The home was damaged in the 1966 tornado, but Chet worked hard to get all back in order and had Old Glory waving by Flag Day. He planted the trees that now tower over the house and shade his beloved front porch where the family enjoyed many glasses of summer sweet tea and visits with neighbors.
Chet was a patient and ever-doting father. Friends of his daughters' were all made to feel welcome at the Curttright home. He spent many a cold winter morning, scraping off his daughters' and wife's windshields and warming up their cars. His goal in life was to make it easier for others. His smile and kind demeanor came so effortlessly.
He was a 55 year member of First United Methodist Church and he taught the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School for over 20 years, loving every minute of sharing God's Word with the little ones. He lived his faith and his values on a daily basis, demonstrating that God, family, and friends are what make a person truly wealthy.
Chet worked at Culligan Soft Water for 35 years, and then joined Lindsay Water Conditioning for another 26 years. He retired in 2010. His work allowed him to interact with people from all walks of life, always finding an opportunity to share a laugh, kind words or even a cup of coffee. He deeply enjoyed his work family.
Because he was a champion at napping, guests coming through his kitchen door often found him lying on the floor in the sunshine, completely comfortable and enjoying a midday snooze. He enjoyed old-time country music, reading westerns, yodeling and swinging his girls up on his shoulders for rides when they were little. He shared his love of military history with his grandsons, sharing stories and taking them to museums. He possessed a legendary love of sweets and enjoyed pancakes at Cracker Barrel and Colleen's homemade pies.
Never believing it was too late to make new friends, he developed many friendships with the caring staff and his tablemates during his two years at Plaza West. He would enter the dining room waving his hand with a smile as he passed by each table. He never went anywhere without his WWII cap given to him by his grandson, Brent. Chet felt honored to take the Honor Flight for WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. in 2011.
He is survived and dearly missed by his wife Colleen; daughters Tiwana (Bruce) Whitten (Topeka) and Dawn (Greg) Taylor (Wichita); grandsons Brent (Rachel) Whitten, Caleb (Kenra) Whitten, Ethan (Rebecca) Whitten, and Jared Whitten; his great-grandson Colter Whitten; his step-grandchildren Brandi Wyer, Dustin Wyer, and Nikki Taylor; and his sister Nellie Grooms.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and six brothers.
His family will celebrate his life with a service in Klasse Chapel at First United Methodist Church, Topeka at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17. Visitation is from 6:00-7:30 on Tuesday, December 16th at Penwell Gabel Southwest.Chapel.
Chester's wishes were that any Memorials may be designated to First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd. 66603 or The Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS. 66675.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Chester E. Curttright, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
6:00 - 7:30 pm (Central time)
Dove Cremations & Funerals - Southwest
Service
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)
First United Methodist Church
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors