WILMINGON — Marion Dale Curtis, of Wilmington, N.C., beloved husband, father, and grandfather, went to be with his Heavenly Father Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, at the age of 60. He died of a heart attack in his home.
Dale was born to J.D. Curtis and Joyce Conway Curtis in Cleburne, Texas, on June 1, 1956. He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant from 1974 to 1976.
Dale answered the call to ministry by attending Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education followed by a Master of Divinity at Duke University. While attending Duke, Dale was appointed to pastor at Bethlehem UMC and Shady Grove UMC in Warren County. Full-time appointments included West Nash UMC in Wilson, Richlands UMC, and Rose Hill UMC, after which he served as a wedding officiant for the Cape Fear region as well as a youth director for Wrightsboro UMC in Wilmington, N.C.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Bettsy: his sons, Adam Curtis and Wesley Curtis: daughters, Diamond Bruce and Holly Curtis: brothers, David Curtis and Chris Curtis: sister, Melaney Reagor: granddaughter, Kiara Bruce: and grandsons, Cooper Curtis and Corbin Curtis.
Throughout his ministerial career, Dale served as a spiritual director in the Coastal Carolina Emmaus Community. Memorial contributions may be made to Coastal Carolina Emmaus Community at P.O. Box 4826, Wilmington, NC 28406.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401, College Road in Wilmington.