HARRY W. CURLESS

Harry Curless

Harry W. Curless, 93, of Havana died at 11:02 a.m. Jan. 21, 2016, at Mason District Hospital in Havana.

He was born July 13, 1922, in Astoria, the son of Roy and Bessie Grove Curless. He married Wanda Colleen Watkins on Jan. 4, 1949. She preceded him in death.

Surviving are two daughters, Debra (and Neil) Sharpe and Ellen Gex; and two grandsons, Nicholas Gex and Alexander Gex.

He was a veteran of World War II. He served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force, receiving the Air Medal, with three clusters for Distinguished Service, four Presidential Citations and the Air Medal with four Bronze Stars. He was in the 20th Air Force as part of the original B-29 Hellbirds. His service included India, China, Burma, the Mariana Islands (Tinian and Saipan) and Africa, serving from 1942–46.

He had trapshooted over the years at local, state and the Grand American International Handicap shoots, winning many honors and trophies, finishing in the top 10 many times.

He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge, the Illinois Trapshooting Association and the Air Force Association. He retired after 42 years at Illinois Power Company.

Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or the Illinois Masonic Children’s Homes.

Funeral services were held Monday at Hurley Funeral Home in Havana with Wayne Curless officiating. Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Havana.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 1/27/2016