(no subject)
09/03/2006 RICHARD CONWAY CURTISS WILLIAMSTOWN - Richard Conway Curtiss, most beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle passed on to his eternal rest on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006, in the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ruth Curtiss, and his sister, Patricia Hudson. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Vivian of Williamstown; daughter, Linda Schaefer and her husband Frank of Payson, Ariz.; daughter, Nancy Magee and her husband Ed of Williamstown; five grandchildren (David Fostervold and his wife Stacey of Bristol, Conn.; Brian Fostervold and fiancee Jane Ross of Ridgefield, Conn.; Marya Fostervold-Scott and her husband Sharrod of Raleigh, N.C.; Julie Kastigar and her husband James of Hermosa Beach, Calif.; Holly Schaefer of Payson); and five great-grandchildren (Matthew and Madison Fostervold, and Jasmine, Faith, and Jalen Fostervold-Scott). He is also survived by a sister, Norma Edwards of Essex Junction; a brother, Phillip Curtiss of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and numerous nieces and nephews. Born Feb. 14, 1923, Richard lived all his life in Williams- town. Immediately following graduation from Williamstown High School in 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew missions over Japan, Formosa, Manchuria, Burma, Thailand, Sumatra, and Ceylon. On June 5, 1944, he flew on the historic first B29 bombing mission over Bangkok, Thailand. That was followed by the bombing of the Imperial Iron and Steel Works in Yawata, Japan, on June 15, 1944. This was the first air raid over the Japanese mainland since the famous Jimmy Dolittle airstrike in 1942. In recent years Richard was a member of the World War II Memorial Association. He was very patriotic and proud to be a part of “The Greatest Generation.“ In Pratt, Kan., on Jan. 8, 1944, Richard married Vivian Towns of Savannah, Ga. They settled in Vermont following his discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1945. In 1946, Richard went to work as an inspector for the Highway Patrol. He transferred to the newly formed State Police on July 1, 1947, the rose through the ranks serving in charge of the Safety Education Division, Director of the Marine Division, Head of the Special Services Unit, and Troop Commander. He retired as Captain in 1978. From 1978 to 1988, Richard worked for the Vermont State Employees Association. He was a familiar face in the legislative halls as he lobbied for better salaries, benefits, and working conditions for Vermont's employees. Richard held many offices in the Freemason Society, beginning in 1951 in the Summit Masonic Lodge 104 in Williamstown of which was a past Master, through the Scottish and York Rites, and culminating with his installation as Vermont's 73rd Grand Master on June 14, 1989. He was also a member of the Mount Sinai Temple 3 and Charity Chapter 5, OES, of Williamstown. The youths of Vermont were of particular concern to Richard. He was on the staff of Vermont Boys State for over 50 years and served as director for more than 20 of those years. He also was part of the Governor's Committee on Children and Youth for 14 years. Other affiliations included the Montpelier Elks 924, Brattleboro Post 5 of the American Legion, the Societa 'di Mutuo Soccorso of Barre, and the World War II 40th Bomb Group Association. He was a director of the Vermont State Fair in Rutland. As a member of the United Federated Church of Williamstown, he served in many capacities. Richard loved the circus and was a member of the Circus Fans Association of America and the Circus Historical Society. He knew many professional circus performers and was an amateur clown. He had an extensive circus poster collection. Richard was a familiar face throughout Vermont and touched many lives. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. His funeral will be held Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. in the United Federated Church in Williamstown. Burial will be in the Williamstown Village Cemetery. The family will welcome friends at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy St., Barre, on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the organ fund of the United Federated Church, c/o Florence Winters, P.O. Box 645, Williams- town, Vt. 05679.