Archibald “Archie” Delbert Curry passed away on June 27th, 2024, at his home, surrounded by family who will miss him dearly. Delivered by Dr. Daniel Turner on the home farm outside of Watertown, Ohio on March 16th, 1937 to Walter Ray and Lizzie Helen Pryor Curry, he was named after his paternal great-uncle, Archibald Curry, and his maternal uncle, Purl Delbert Pryor. Archie attended grades 1-4 and 5-8 at the two Watertown school buildings located, at the time, just before the curve on the left at the top of Watertown Hill. He grew up farming sheep and dairy cattle, milking 26 cows by hand twice a day. The milk was sold to United Dairy and picked up by Newman Ford and Kenny Reed in cans marked with X-8, the Curry farm ID. His freshman year was spent at Waterford H.S., then the family moved to Marietta. During his junior and senior years, Archie made prescription deliveries for National Drug Store. Making those deliveries throughout Marietta, Belpre, and Lowell, Mrs. Harris, the owner, allowed him to drive the store’s 1954 blue Chevy panel van. He graduated from Marietta H.S. with the class of 1956.
Archie exchanged love letters with his future wife, Shirley Louene Welch (Beverly H.S., Class of ’55), for almost three years before finally getting hitched on August 25, 1956. They lived in Beverly for one year, moving to, and residing on Main St. in Watertown in 1957. Archie was the Constable of Watertown for years 1959 and 1960, and was on the Watertown Volunteer Fire Department from 1957 until 1969, at which time they moved to the family farm for their remaining 63 years together.
Archie worked for Interlake Steel from 1956-1967 and Dravo/Connex from 1967-1993, being one of the last handful of employees remaining until its closure. He then embarked on a variety of employment that included Paradime Valves, Progressive Athletics, Archie’s Excavating, D&L Equipment, Cadora Oil and Gas, and Offenberger Sanitation, retiring from Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local #168 in 2002. Archie was a member of the Watertown Methodist Church, Waterford Grange from 15 yrs. of age, Washington County Farm Bureau, Mount Moriah Lodge #37, Moose Lodge #2382, Fraternal Order of Eagles #3665, Eastern Star #23, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction-32nd degree, and the NRA.
Humorous and colorful, Archie was always ready with a story or joke, and was very proficient at pulling your leg without cracking a smile. He was also opinionated and passionate, so you never had to wonder where he stood on a topic or what he thought of your choices.
Along with enjoying his home, land, gardening, butchering, canning, and good old “Apple Pie”, Archie loved his large family.
He is survived by his Daughter Tamara Lee (Jess) Linton of Coolville, Ohio and their children, two bonus sons Devin and Jason (Lisa), Jordan (Erica), Blaze (Doris), Jesta (Mitchell) Stanley and Trace (Chris) Linton; Son Zane Ray (Denise Fancher) of Waterford, and his children, bonus son Johnny (Susan) Stiers, Zane Jr., Chance, Logan (Amber), Tell (Crystal Darcy), and Paige Curry; Son Rex Alan (Elizabeth) of Waterford, and their children Seth, Sophia (Sean McFall), Sawyer, and Selise Curry; Son Alex Dean (Angela) of Waterford, and his children Tony and Dillon (Cortney) Curry; and Daughter Cassandra Nan (Bryan) Corbitt of Belpre, Ohio and their children Joel (Lexie) and Kylie Corbitt.
Archie’s great-grandchildren include Lena River, Remy Night, Elaina Nicole, William “Jake” John, Jesse Skye, Jacob Wade, Walter Ray, Daisy May, Hudson Archibald, Addison Jane, Ali Jane, Mason Tell, Riley Marie, Gabriell LeAnn, Evan Howard, Enzlee Marie Louene, Journi Monroe, Noble Alexander, and Beckham Joseph.
Surviving in-laws are Don Thorne of Farmington, WV, Jack and Janet (Welch) Lang of Waterford, Terry and Janet Welch of Marietta, Blaine and Maureen Welch of Beverly, along with a quiverfull of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Shirley (5-19-2020) and infant son, Ben Napier Curry, as well as, Brother Bonnum Curry and wife Loretta, Sister Betsy Clutter Cox and husband, Jim, Sister Roberta Pettit Thorne, and in-laws, Jerry and Lois (Welch) Tucker.
In lieu of flowers, donations for the Watertown Volunteer Fire Department and the Beverly-Waterford Squad would be welcomed.
A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Curry Family Cemetery near Watertown. Friends may call 2-8 pm on Monday at McCurdy Funeral Home in Beverly and online condolences may be made by visiting www.mccurdyfh.com.
