Ralph R. Curtis, founder of the Curtis Insurance Agency in downtown Oxford, passed away August 4, 2005. He was 85.
Mr. Curtis had suffered extensive injuries during a July 19 automobile crash in Metamora Township.
The Curtis family came to Oxford in 1934 from Clawson. Mr. Curtis graduated from Oxford High School in 1937 and managed for Krogers grocery store until 1944 when he went off to fight in World War II.
Serving in the 99th Infantry Division as a Technician Fifth Grade (T-5), Mr. Curtis was awarded a silver star and two bronze stars.
After the war, Mr. Curtis worked for General Motors in technical services until 1948, when he founded the insurance agency bearing his name. He operated the agency until 1984 when he retired and son Ralph P. Curtis took over the family business.
For about 20 of those years, Mr. Curtis was also the broker/owner of Webster-Curtis Real Estate.
As a businessman, son Ralph said his father ‘worked very hard at doing what was best for the customers.?
In addition to being a well-respected local businessman, Mr. Curtis was a concerned community leader serving on the Oxford Village Council, Oxford School Board and Oxford Chamber of Commerce Board.
He also served as president of Oxford’s Rotary Club in 1958.
‘He thought a lot about the community and what was best for it in all the decisions he made,? said son Ralph. ‘He was hardworking, intelligent, thoughtful and courteous.?
A man of faith, Mr. Curtis was a longtime member of the Oxford United Methodist Church, where he actively served on many boards.
Every man has his passion in life and for Ralph R. Curtis it was Morgan horses ? an American breed of horse that can be traced all the way back to the stallion Justin Morgan (also named ‘Figure?), foaled in 1789.
No other American breed can trace its pedigrees as far back as the Morgan horse can to the same foundation horse, making it the first true American breed based on bloodlines.
In 1954, Mr. Curtis and his wife Ruth, whom he married in June 1941, took ownership of the Maple Ridge Farm on Noble Road in Addison Township.
Here the couple bred and raised many well-known champion Morgan horses including the stallions Chasley Superman (which produced seven national champions) and Maple Ridge Kingsman.
In 1975, Mr. Curtis was elected president of the Michigan Horse Show Association (MHSA) ? the largest association of its kind in Michigan.
Throughout his life, he also served as president of the Gold Cup Horse Show, vice president of the National Morgan Horse Association and as a board member of the Michigan Morgan Club.
Mr. Curtis was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Ruth E. Curtis, who passed away in 2000, and brother Melvin Keith, who died in 1981.
He is survived by his loving children Ralph P. (Carol) Curtis, of Metamora; Alan J. (Mary) Curtis, of Oxford; and Anita (Ron) Nye, of Florida.
Mr. Curtis is also survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sister Elsie Davis; and brothers Charles (Marm) Curtis and Arthur (Carol) Curtis.
He also leaves behind his good friends Lee and Ruth Donley, of Oxford.
Funeral services were held at Bossardet Chapel Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors on August 8.
Memorials to the Oxford United Methodist Church or Banbury Cross Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Oxford are appreciated.