E. Wayne Curtis

slipped away to be with the Lord and is now celebrating his eternal

homecoming in Heaven.

He was born in Monroe County, Tennessee, on September 17, 1920. After

graduation, Wayne worked at the Alcoa Plant in Knoxville when WWII

broke out. He joined the armed services, a Captain in the US Marine

Corp, serving State-side as a fighter pilot flight instructor. His military

training brought him to the Norman Naval Air Station in Norman,

Oklahoma, where he met his future bride of 65 years, Bettie J. Rea of

Oklahoma City. They married in January 1944 and settled back in OKC for

the long haul. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1958.

After the war, the GI Bill provided an opportunity for Wayne to attend

college, but he knew he needed to work, and so began his life-long

entrepreneurial journey. He started by selling encyclopedias door-to-door

and then to selling beer boxes to restaurants. He sold shake makers to a

young, ambitious Ray Crock and eventually started his namesake, Curtis

Restaurant Supply. A pioneer in the restaurant equipment world, his

legendary presence, support, and influence spurred successes nationwide

still in operation today.

As a father, husband, friend, and Christian, Wayne modeled undeniable

integrity, honesty, grace, kindness, compassion, and generosity to his

family, friends, and everyone in his presence. He was always there when

you needed him, even if you didn’t ask.

His faith in Jesus Christ was his bedrock. He loved his church, Crossings

Community Church, volunteering at Crossings’ Medical Clinic until age 96

and attending a morning men’s Bible study up to age 99. The light of his

faith shone to everyone he met. He was a true Tennessee

gentleman...with a caring heart, uplifting humor, gleeful gratitude, engaging

smile, common-sense wisdom, and a dapper look that was only

surpassed by his ever-present humility. He loved everybody, and

everybody loved him.

He adored food, especially banana pudding and everything Bettie made.

With each culinary delight, he would always declare, “That’s the best I’ve

ever had!”. He loved the lake, playing gin rummy, OU football, golf, and

the holidays - especially Christmas, surrounded by family, extended family,

and friends.

He experienced the introduction of electricity and indoor plumbing to

homes, survived the Great Depression, distinctly remembered the days of

the nickel hamburgers, viewed the birth of television, celebrated the first

man on the moon, and witnessed the invention of the computer and cell

phones (although he never really did learn to use either one). He believed

in staying active, both physically and mentally, exercising and reading up

to the very end. Being 100 years old, he was preceded in death by just

about everyone.

Wayne is survived by: his children Dick (and Dee) Curtis, Jennie Curtis,

and Ted (and Kara) Curtis; his grandchildren Catherine (and Aaron)

Jarrette, Christine (and Scott) Fleer, Clara Curtis, KateLynn “Katie” Curtis,

and Will Curtis; his great grandchildren Aidan, Rylie, Peyton, & Brennan

Jarrette, Mazie & Lexi Fleer; his nieces/nephew LeeAnn (and Tom) Powell,

Rea (and Joe) Baldridge, and Michael Baldridge.

Our family would like to express gratitude to the doctors and nurses at

Mercy Hospital for the great care they gave to Wayne and to the staff that

cared directly for him at Epworth Villa. To Bob & Janet Clift, Karen

Marshall, and his Tuesday morning Bible group - Thank you for being such

great friends. “You made his day.” And to Jimmie McCallum - thank you

for being an angel on earth to him. He loved all of you so very much.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wayne will be buried in a private family

service, with full military honors. His memorial service will be postponed

until after the pandemic is better under control.

Viewing will be Monday, November 16 from 12:00-8:00pm at Hahn-Cook/

Street & Draper Funeral Home (6600 Broadway Ext, 73116). No

appointment necessary.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research

Foundation or to the Red River Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.