Rolland Charles Curtis, 74

MSgT, U.S. Air Force, Ret.

Rolland Charles Curtis, 74, of Tularosa, passed away, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center.

He was born December 10, 1933 to Hattie and Charles Curtis at Lyons, KS.

He is survived by his wife, Callie of the family home; a son, James and wife, Beryl of Jacksonville, FL; daughters, Vereen Houston and husband Lyle of Alamogordo, Dawnita Brown and husband Jeff of Philadelphia, PA; nine grandchildren, Jeannette, Jaida, Jeffry and Joel Brown, Pamela Yetter and husband Rich, Michael Cook, Charles Cook and wife Carrie and Trayo and Zachariah Curtis; twenty-two great grandchildren; two stepchildren, Theresa Ross and husband Guy and John Houston and wife Denise; an uncle, Roy and wife Genevieve Oden of Hutchinson, KS and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Hattie and Gary Elliott and his father and stepmother, Charles and Nellie Curtis.

Rolland was a member of the Fifth Street Baptist Church of Levelland, TX.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force serving in Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri, Japan, France, Spain and England.

He was Past Worshipful Master of the Tularosa Lodge, #49 and a member of Sacramento Lodge #24, A.F.& A.M., Scottish Rite Consistory of Las Cruces, Rocket Shrine Club and Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple of Albuquerque, NM. He was Past Worthy Patron of Oriental Star #6, Misawa, Japan and Alamo Chapter #11 Order of the Eastern Star. He was a life member of VFW Post 7686 and a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association.

Direct Cremation has taken place under the care of PCS Direct Cremation Services.

A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at the Tularosa Masonic Cemetery with the Tularosa Lodge, #49 officiating. Full Military Honors will be provided by Holloman Air Force Base Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association.