Milton O. Curtis

Milton Orvill Curtis, 83, of Midland passed away Saturday, July 31, 2010 at MidMichigan Medical Center. He was the husband of Leatha (Mast Hines) Curtis and the son of the late Leslie and Ida (Whittaker) Curtis. Milton was born on May 23, 1927 in Plymouth, Michigan. He attended Plymouth High School and served in the Merchant Marines during World War II.
Milton first came to Midland in 1951 when he purchased Curtis Pastry Shop with his brother, Cleo. Milt became the sole owner in 1961. During that time, he was active in several organizations including the Midland Lions Club, the Midland Chamber of Commerce, the Midland Jaycees, and the Eastern Michigan Bakers Association, of which he served a term as president. He sold the store to the Hamilton family in 1968. Prior to owning the bakery, Milt worked for Terry's Bakery in Plymouth and the Federated Bakeries chain.
Following his bakery career, he worked in real estate and drove semi-trucks with his two brothers for Spartan Foods and Chemical Lehman Trucking. He retired in 1990. After several years of living in Florida, he returned to Midland in 2006. He enjoyed fishing and working in the yard.
Milt grew up on the Curtis family farm on Curtis Road in Salem Township with his six brothers and four sisters. He married Mary L. McLemore of Irvine, Kentucky in 1945.
Milton is survived by his wife, Leatha; sons, Robert and wife Connie (Wasser) of Colleyville, Texas, Rick and wife Beth (Leach) of Midland; daughters Sharon Rajewski and husband John of Linwood, MI, Marjorie Scheppele and husband Robert of Ballwin, MO; step-daughters Sandy Singler and husband Robert of Sanford, Cindy Morse and husband Clare, of Midland; a sister, Hazel Adams-Brown of Ann Arbor; a brother, Norman and his wife Donna of Livonia; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by five brothers Cleo, Owen, Leon, Don, and Dale and three sisters, Iola Hall-Ferguson, Janice Lasho, and Lois Hoopingarner.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wilson MILLER Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. at Eagle Ridge Church of God, 2808 Waldo Road, Midland. Persons wishing to make a donation in Milton's memory may consider Seasons Adult Day Services in Midland, the Mid-Michigan Home Care's hospice services, and the Eagle Ridge Church of God Benevolent Fund. Personal messages of condolence may be offered to the family at www.wilson-miller.com