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CURTIS, ROBERT MCBURNEY, 90
CURTIS, ROBERT MCBURNEY, 90, of Waterbury, passed away at Central Vermont Medical Center on December 13. Born in Jersey City, N.J., on Christmas Day, 1921, he was the son of the late Ben A. and Maude W. (McBurney) Curtis. On Dec. 27, 1946, Bob married the former Shirley Partridge in Winchester, N.H. Bob attended schools in Newton, Mass., and then continued his education at the University of Vermont. While in college Bob enlisted with the U.S. Army in May 1942 and served with the 1st U.S. Infantry Division in the European theater of operations. He received four Battle Stars and was discharged on Jan. 9, 1946. Returning to UVM, Bob graduated with his BS in mechanical engineering in 1947. Bob worked as a mechanic for Vermont Transit Bus Co. in Burlington for several years, and later as building maintenance superintendent for the Greyhound Bus Co. in Washington, D.C. In 1950, Bob re-enlisted and served during the Korean War, where he received three Battle Stars. Returning to Vermont in 1953, he was employed as a field engineer with Shell Oil Co., and then in 1955 accepted the position as senior sales engineer with Gulf Oil Corp., retiring in 1982. Bob was a longtime Freemason and held membership with Union Lodge 2, F&AM in Middlebury and was a Shriner with Cairo Temple in Rutland. His other memberships included Blush Hill Country Club in Waterbury, where he served as secretary on the board of directors, VFW Post 10034 of Waterbury, and served the town of Waterbury as a member of the Budget Committee and member of the Town Planning Commission. Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Curtis, of Waterbury; their children, Sharon Raymond and husband, H. Joseph, and Deborah Lowe and husband, Kenneth, all of Waterbury Center, Barbara Caron, of Colchester, Peter Curtis, of Owls Head, Maine, and Ben Curtis and wife, Claudia, of Plons, Switzerland; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Bob was predeceased by a brother, Donald Curtis. Friends and family are invited for a time of visitation and refreshments on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, from 1 to 3pm in the banquet room at the Best Western in Waterbury.
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