James D. Curtis

James D. “Jim” Curtis, 87, passed away on June 7, 2024, at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born December 16, 1936, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas to Lloyd E. and M. Myrtle Curtis.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Anita (Vise) Curtis; children Mike (Shawn) Curtis of Arlington, Texas and Lisa (Ed) Riddick of Little Rock; grandchildren Patrick Curtis, Katie Curtis, Kader Riddick, and Rebecca Riddick; great-grandchildren, Finley Moore, Audrey Moore, and Adelaide Curtis. Sisters-in-law Donna Curtis, Barbara Vise (Jeannine Bruckner, companion) and brother-in-law John Vise (Monika). Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Alan.

Jim graduated from Siloam Springs High School in 1955. He married Anita in Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 1957. After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, he served from 1955 to 1963 achieving the rank of Airman 2^nd Class. He was stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas at the 688^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron as an AC&W Radar Repairman. In 1965, Jim and Anita settled in Little Rock.

Jim was proud to be the first member of his family to earn a college degree. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1972. While at UALR, he was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. Jim spent most of his career in mortgage banking and retired from Regions Bank in 2002. He was also a member of the Little Rock Kiwanis Club.

As a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, Jim warmly greeted fellow members and visitors on Sunday mornings and faithfully served on Asbury’s 1999 Building Committee for the northwest addition. As charter members, Jim and Anita helped establish the New Directions Sunday School class for couples where many deep friendships were developed.  In particular, Jim enjoyed his Friday night outings with Anita and best friends Bob and Fran Hardin.  Jim served twice as the New Directions Class President.

Since Jim grew up in northwest Arkansas, he was a lifelong fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and a proud member of the Little Rock Razorback Touchdown Club. He enjoyed watching University of Arkansas sports, reading sports biographies and an actual printed newspaper, and loved to golf with his brother Alan and many Asbury friends.  Jim was an avid student of U.S. history and enjoyed reading history books and biographies of the American presidents.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at the UAMS ICU for their loving care of Jim. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be designated for the Permanent Endowment Fund of Asbury United Methodist Church, 1700 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72212.