Curnutt, Wilburn

Wilburn Curnutt

Services: Have been held.

Wilburn Curnutt, 84, of Waco, Texas, died Sunday, March 28, 2004, at a nursing home in Waco.

He was born January 26, 1920, in Trinidad, Colo., to C.F. and Florence Curnutt.

He came to the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco at the age of 10. He graduated from Waco High School in 1939. He received a football scholarship and attended Weatherford College, then transferred to the University of North Texas on another football scholarship. He played on the team that went to the first bowl game at North Texas, which it won.

He received a master’s degree in arts in 1947. He married Angelina Meredith on July 13, 1946, in Denton, Texas. He served for a short time in the U.S. Navy during WW II. He worked at the V.A. Hospital in Waco, retiring in 1977. After retirement he became well known for pecan-tree grafting. He had served as a Boy Scout leader and a Little League coach. He was a member of the American Legion Post 440 and the Lakeshore United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Randy Curnutt (and wife, Kristine) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; two daughters, Melinda Dodd (Troy) of Kingwood, Texas, and Nancy Stone (Travis) of Houston; seven grandchildren, Kelly Curnutt of Los Angeles, Kari O’Neill (Billy) and Keegan Curnutt of Seattle, Kyle Curnutt of Bellingham, Wash., Lacy Belote (Jason) of Dallas and Tripp and Tyler Stone, both of Houston; a great-granddaughter, Kevan Curnutt; a sister, Thelma Scales (George) of Clovis; and a brother, Harold Curnutt (Betty) of Blessing, Texas.

The Rev. Pamela Dykehouse officiated the services.

Burial was at Waco Memorial North in Waco.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stilwell Memorial Residence, Methodist Children’s Home or Meals on Wheels.

Arrangements were by Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home of Waco.