Curry

Richard G. "Dick" Curry, 82, of Butler died Tuesday at his home.

Born April 3, 1926, in Butler, he was a son of the late Howard J. and Ruth M. (Bruner) Curry.

He was a 1943 graduate of Butler High School and the one-room Brinker Schoolhouse in Herman. While working at Armco, he acquired an ICS Mechanical Engineering Degree. He served as president of the Armco Management Club. He was a member of the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers and St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Butler.

Mr. Curry worked at the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, Calif., in the machine shop, where parts for submarines were made. He had retired from Armco in 1983 after 39 years and last held the position of supervisor of the processing maintenance department.

He was a board member for the Butler Area Sewer Authority and served on the United Way of Butler County, Industrial Division.

While serving in the Air Corps as an armorer/tail gunner on a B-29 bomber, he flew 20 combat missions over Japan. He served time in Hawaii, Kawajalain, the Philippine Islands and North Field Guam, where he was based. He was a staff sergeant and was awarded the Asiatic/Pacific ribbon with the Bronze Battle Star, Air Medal with Bronze Cluster, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct, American Theater, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Combat and three Commendations.

Dick was a life member of the American Legion, the V.F.W. and the Disabled American Veterans. He was very active in all of these organizations. Some of the activities he pursued were commander of the D.A.V., Americanism Advisor, Trustee and Surgeon of the V.F.W. and member of the building committee for the American Legion. Bingo was provided for the veterans at the Butler VA Medical Center by the D.A.V. He was also a member of the V.F.W. Honor Guard, which provided funeral and ritual ceremonies for deceased veterans. He placed American flags on the graves of veterans on Memorial Day and Labor Day. He had authored three books about World War II veterans, was honored as the Butler County Veteran of the Year 2001 and was an avid golfer, bowler, and card player.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Neil (Pamela) Dorcy and Mrs. Robert (Debra) Ocvirk, all of Butler; a son, Richard L. Curry and his wife, Angie, of Ashburn, Va.; five grandchildren, Curt Dorcy and his wife, Shannon, Lauren Dorcy, Michael Ocvirk, Jessica Curry, and Branden Curry; a great-grandson, Colin Dorcy; two brothers, Don Curry and Charles Curry, both of Butler; and a sister, Elinor Hinchberger of Butler.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary V. Curry, who died, Aug. 2, 2004; a brother, William Curry; and a sister, Marion Curry.

<B>CURRY </B>— Friends of Richard G. "Dick" Curry, who died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St. The Rev. Pierre Falkenhan, pastor, will officiate. Entombment will follow in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.Military honors will be conducted by the V.F.W./American Legion Honor Guard at the cemetery.The Women's Council of St. Peter will meet at 9:40 a.m. Friday at the church to recite the rosary.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Butler Visiting Nurses Association, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.