GEORGE J. CURTIS, SR.

IDAHO FALLS, ID -- George J. Curtis, Sr., 84, of Idaho Falls, died September 14, 2007, of natural causes at his home in Idaho Falls.

George was the son of Alma May Sorter Curtis Hendrickson and Leo Curtis. He was born November 8, 1922, in Tuttle, Idaho. He grew up and attended schools in the Sugar City area, graduating from Sugar-Salem High School. From the age of 14, George had his own team of horses and a thirty acre farm in the Sugar City area.

From 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army. He served as a corporal in the U. S. Army infantry, 91st Greentree Division in Italy. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge and his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation. After six months on the front lines he was wounded in action and was transferred to the Provost Marshall's office where he completed his tour of duty. He refused the Purple Heart because he was concerned that the notification back home would upset his mother.

After returning home from the war, George continued his education at Ricks College and later at Utah State University where he received his Bachelor's Degree. On June 30, 1948, he married Margaret Lorna Tibbitts in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. For four years George taught agriculture, chemistry, and biology at North Gem High School in Bancroft.

George later obtained a job at the Site and for 37 years worked as a senior research chemist/senior scientist at the INL Chemical Processing Plant (CPP). He worked with almost every element in the periodic chart - including uranium and plutonium. Nuclear facilities throughout the world relied on chemical standards he prepared. He was a member of the Idaho Academy of Sciences and the American Chemical Society. He published several technical papers, was referenced in many books and presented several papers at American Chemical Society meetings. He understood the nuclear process and knew that nuclear power is a clean, safe, reliable, and abundant source of energy and the solution to many of the world's energy problems. He authored a book on nuclear energy called "Our Energy Future: Fossil or Fissile?"

Outside professional chemistry, many people in Idaho Falls recognized George as the friendly manager of the Falls/Centre Theatre on Park Avenue. During the 1970's he managed the theatre evenings and weekends as a hobby. It became a gathering place for friends and family.

After his retirement from the INL in 1991, George's hobbies included spending time with his family and writing letters to the editor of the Post Register.

George was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and, during his lifetime served in a number of callings including home teacher, ward clerk, and stake young men's secretary. He raised missionaries who served in Japan, Germany, Minnesota, Texas, Bolivia and Poland.

Margaret and George raised nine children. Their home was open to many friends and family and served as the Curtis Preschool for 19 years. George was preceded in death by his wife on February 21, 1996, and recently by his sister, Ardis Stevens, of Rexburg. He is survived by his brother, Gene Lyman Curtis, of Idaho Falls, and his nine children – George J. Curtis, Jr. (Lynda Hamberlin) of Scottsdale, Arizona; John Nichlos Curtis, of Kaiserslautern, Germany; James Lee Curtis, of Phoenix, Arizona; Brandt Christian Curtis, of Omaha, Nebraska; Paul Tibbitts Curtis (Rebecca Snyder), of Ammon, Idaho; Mitchell Dee Curtis (Wendy Wood) of Rigby Idaho; Mary Nell Lorna Lundquist (Martin Lundquist), of St. George, Utah; Stewart Ryan Curtis (Susana Hernandez), of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Robert Whiting Curtis (Michelle Mixer), of Las Vegas, Nevada. He has 31 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

George's life was a great example of hard work and sacrifice for the benefit of others - especially his family. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his family. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the Idaho Falls LDS Mountain View Chapel (1450 Mountain View Lane) with Bishop Kerry Holmgren, officiating. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, and Thursday from 12 noon until 12:45 p.m. at the church.

Burial will be in the Annis-Little Butte Cemetery with Military Rites performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team.