Obituary of John Charles Curtis

John Charles “Charlie” Curtis passed away on December 23, 2018. The beloved husband of 58 years of Marjorie L. (Morrison) he was 86 years old.  Charlie was born in Cambridge.  He was the son of the late John & Grace Curtis. He was a graduate of Arlington High School.  Charlie was a Veteran of the Korean War serving his country in the United States Navy from 1952 – 1956.   He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He achieved the rank of Aircraft Structural Mechanic Second Class.    Charlie was stationed in San Diego when his tour of duty ended.  Shortly after leaving the Navy he would meet his future wife Marjorie through a mutual friend. They dated for three years before marrying in 1960.  They settled in Marjorie’s hometown of Burlington in 1961 where they would raise their seven children.

Charlie worked hard to provide for his family.  He was a Sheet Metal Worker. He started his career working for Local 17 and eventually branching out on his own focusing on roofing. His company was known as John Curtis Roofing. 

In 1971 Charlie would design and build his dream vacation home in the town of Westmore, Vermont overlooking beautiful Willoughby Lake. The family spent summer vacations, weekends and many quick family escapes at their retreat and created many special memories.    He was an avid fisherman and the streams and the lake provided the perfect escape for Charlie.  

Charlie was a very handy man.  There wasn’t any task or project that he was afraid to tackle. He was the go to person when someone in the family had a project with which they needed help.   Charlie loved working outdoors.  He could be seen driving his John Deere Tractor around both his home in Burlington and Vermont.  He loved to maintain his properties with pride. 

Charlie was a fun loving grandfather and a great storyteller.  There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family.  Charlie will be remembered as a supportive and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. 

Charlie was the beloved husband of Marjorie L. (Morrison).  Loving father of Christine Murray of Arlington, John, Jr. & his wife JoMarie of Windham, NH, Russell & his wife Joanne Giannino of Westmore, VT, Leslie of Orlando, FL, Valerie of Burlington, Philip & his wife Kristen of Sandwich and Jennifer Gorewitz & her husband Eric of Concord.  Charlie is also survived by 13 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, John B. Curtis and Nora Grace (Troy), and his grandson John Curtis, III.  Brother of Rosemary Riley, Grace Taddeo & Edward Curtis.  A visitation will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Friday, Dec. 28 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at Noon. Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Charlie’s name may be made to the charity of one’s choice.