William Henry Towner Curtis

William Henry Towner Curtis was born on January 17, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He was born into a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. Everybody in the Curtis family has a nickname, Snookie, Buggy, Cool Al, Tab, JC, Bootie, Sugie and the only one who didn't have a nick name is Buggy's sister, Margie. Not including the nick names, all of Will's siblings are named after the siblings and close friends of their parents. Will is named after his Father, his Father's father and his older brother. Towner is the name of one of his parents' friends.

Will was called "Buggy" because he had a green thumb. In North Philly, where he and most of his siblings grew up, he could catch a grasshopper or a praying mantis and all the fireflies that dared to light up his neighborhood on Boston Street.

Later, when he and his family "moved on up" to Northeast Philadelphia, the house had a really nice backyard. Bug grew strawberries and even green beans. He checked on his strawberries every day. He was really proud of his green thumb and so was his youngest brother, Albie, who ate one of Bug's biggest strawberries. "Cool Al" ate the back of the strawberry so when Bug got home from school and looked at his strawberry plants he couldn't see the big bite. Bug found out later. Albie had to tell on himself, he loved Buggy.

Everybody in the Curtis family grew up with a mandate to be the very best they could be, make contributions to their community and be proud of being Black.  The Curtises had to represent.

Being a "Curtis" was and still is a big deal. That legacy of creating a space for greatness has been passed on to all the children.

Will graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia, and soon entered the Air Force. Before he went to Vietnam, he was stationed in Dover, Delaware. He started a program where the airmen volunteered in the Dover community and brought resources to the Black community. He and a group of his friends held dances and made sure the children in Dover were remembered and gifted with toys and educational materials.

Will was a popular Airman in Dover and when not in uniform, he was known for sporting three piece suits of various colors of the rainbow that were popular in those days. Will gave to the community and had a great time doing it. His dream was to have a radio show that brought the Air Force and the Dover community together. He almost succeeded before he was sent overseas. Will fell in love with Thailand. He found out he had a love for deep sea fishing, this boy from North Philly!

He brought his love for fishing with him when he and his family moved back to the states and moved to Hilliard, Ohio, close to his sister, Fran, who decided to make her home in Columbus, Ohio, after graduate school. Lake Erie and Hoover Dam became two of his favorite places to fish with his friends and his brother, Al.

Sgt. William Henry Towner Curtis had an exemplary record in the Air Force.  He entered service in 1972 and received an honorable discharge in 1992. His primary specialties included: Aircraft Pneudraulic Systems Specialist, Operations Resource Management Specialist, and Aircraft Pneudraulic Systems Technician.  His military education included the Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School and the Supervisory Development Training. He was recognized by the Air Force by receiving the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and recognition in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Among other recognition, Sgt. Curtis also received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award the Air Force Good Conduct Award and the National Defense Service Medal.

Will was preceded in death by his father, William Henry Curtis; mother, Patsy Thompson Curtis; brothers, Charles Albert Curtis and Joseph Caldwell Curtis; and sisters, Vencina Curtis Woodritt and Marjorie Louise Curtis.

Left to survive his legacy is his son, Sabr Davidson Curtis; daughter, Sierrah Koran Curtis; beloved granddaughter, Paige Le Mae Curtis Kennedy; brothers, Donald (Shirley) Curtis and James Albert Curtis; sister, Fran Curtis Frazier; and a host of much loved nieces and nephews and many longtime friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Henry Towner Curtis, please visit our floral store.