Obituary of Samuel M. Curtis , 81

Samuel M. Curtis, 81, of State College, died Monday, March 24, 2014, at his residence.

Born July 6, 1932, in Sterling, he was the son of the late Francis H. and Letha Crossman Curtis. On August 6, 1960, he married Joan Brenneman, who preceded him in death on December 26, 2004.

He is survived by four children, Karen E. Curtis of Florence, KY, Douglas A. Curtis and his wife, Julie, of Jefferson, OH, B. Kevin Curtis of Philadelphia and Boyd Bailey and his wife, Sharon Bywater, of State College; four brothers, Ralph, Marvin and Francis Curtis, all of Sterling and Carroll Curtis and his wife, Rosemary, of Port Royal; one sister, Bernice Dolan of Muncy; six grandchildren, Doug, Rebecca, Sean, Anna, Benjamin and Jacob; two great-grandchildren, Annabelle Lee and Warren James.

Samuel was a 1950 graduate of Greene Dreher High School. He graduated from Penn State University in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education. He received his Master’s degree in 1958 and Doctorate Degree in 1967, also in Agricultural Education from Penn State University.

He was a faculty member of Penn State University from 1966 until 1997. Samuel was the Department Head from 1980 until 1990 for the Department of Agricultural Education and Agricultural and Extension Education. From 1990 until 1996 he was the Director of the Northeast Region Extension. He retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Education.

Samuel was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

He was awarded an Outstanding Service Award from the Eastern Region American Association of Teacher Educators in Agriculture and the FFA Blue and Gold Award in 1992.

Visitation will be from 10 until 12 noon, on Friday, March 28, 2014, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., on Friday, March 28, 2014, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 250 East College Avenue, State College, with the Reverend G. Edwin Zeiders officiating.

Service and burial will be at 12 noon, on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at Sterling Cemetery, in Sterling, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Samuel M. and Joan B. Curtis 4-H and FFA Award Scholarship fund c/o Donor Member Services at Penn State University, 2583 Gateway Drive, Suite 130, State College, PA 16801.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.