Obituary of Lois Curtis

Lois Lucille Curtis Mrs. Curtis, 101, was born January 8, 1910 in Dyke Virginia. Her parents were the late Beauregard Snow and Lucy Ann (Vernon) Snow. The 4th of seven children, she had 2 brothers; Vernon and B.G. and 4 sisters; Velma, Eugenia, Cornelia, Ruth. She attended school in the Dyke, Virginia and then enrolled in the Shenandoah College Business degree program. Following school she was employed in Charlottesville, Virginia by the Albemarle Mickey Company and later by the Virginia Public Service Company, in Charlottesville and Alexandria. She met Robert Lee Curtis who was employed by the Carey Machinery and Supply Company in Harrisonburg, VA and was married to Lee in 1939. They moved to Baltimore Maryland after their marriage and then to Lee Curtis? family farm during WW II, in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. They operated the farm together throughout WWII raising chickens, eggs, and tomatoes for the war effort. Soon after the war, in 1946, her first son, Robert Lee Curtis Jr., was born. In 1949, her second son, Glenn Allen Curtis was born. Lois was very active in supporting the Howard County Health Department, the Howard County Benefit Horse Show at Doughoregan Manor, and other Charities. Lois was a long time member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Elkridge Maryland. Through the efforts of Mrs. Frances Mason and Lois Curtis, on May 24, 1974, Trinity Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its "stylistic variation inspired by the Gothic revival of the 19th century." The historic Sunday school building remaining at Pfeiffer's Corner, Ellicott City, under the direction of Lois, was renovated and became one of Trinity's outreach programs known as "Trinity Gift and Thrift Shop." Money from the shop has been used for many improvements and has helped pay for the 2002 addition to Trinity Church. The shop has been in operation since 1980. In the early 60?s Lois obtained her real estate license and entered the business with Awalt Homes, Ellicott City, MD. She later moved to Skirven Realty where she achieved Agent of the Year status and many other top sales awards. Following her real estate career, Lois and Lee had a winter home in Plantation, Florida where she became an active member and supporter of the Coral Ridge Church. Later, when driving to Florida became difficult, Lois and Lee established their second home in Charlotte, near Lois?s sister Ruth and her son Glenn. In Charlotte, Lois supported and attended the Meyers Park Baptist Church and the St. Andrews Episcopal Church. After Lee?s death in 1998, Lois spent less time in Maryland and more in Charlotte and eventually became a resident at Sharon Towers assisted living, where she passed away to God on Monday, January 31, 2011. Lois is survived by her two sisters, Cornelia Mathews of Vista, California, and Ruth Alden of Charlotte, North Carolina; her two sons and their wives, Robert Curtis and Susan of Lake City, Tennessee, and Glenn Curtis and Connie of Morehead City, North Carolina; her grandson and wife James Curtis and Lauren of Knoxville, Tennessee, and her great granddaughter, Anna Bennet Curtis of Knoxville Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, Lois requested that donations be made to: Trinity Episcopal Church, Pfeiffer?s Corner Cemetery Fund, 7474 Washington Blvd. Elkridge, MD 21075; St Andrews Church, 3601 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205; or Church of The Good Shepherd, 600 Braeside Drive, Baltimore, MD 21229. A service to celebrate her life will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, February 3, 2011 in the Dilworth Chapel of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 PM until the service hour. Graveside services will be at the Trinity Chapel Cemetery, Waterloo Road and Old Montgomery Road, Ellicott City Maryland, on February 7th at 11:00 AM.