COLUMBUS
Paul T. Curry, 85, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017.
Born Feb. 24, 1932, at home on the family farm in Shelby County, he was the only son of six children to Paul T. and Anna Weber Curry, both of whom preceded him in death.
He attended the New Palestine school system, being awarded the American Legion citizenship in the eighth grade. He was salutatorian of his high school graduating class in 1950.
He earned a Division I basketball scholarship to Wichita State University. While there, he was the sophomore class president, student representative to student council his junior year and president of student council his senior year. He also was named president of his social fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
In 1954, he was named as one of the five outstanding graduates at Wichita State University. He served two years in the military and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1956. He enrolled in the Indiana University School of Business in 1956 and graduated with a Master of Business Administration in 1958.
Paul worked for the certified public accounting firm George S. Olive in Indianapolis, and after four years he joined Hamilton Cosco in Columbus as chief financial officer. He held several positions in finance and management prior to acquiring Dicksons Inc. in Seymour in 1972. Dicksons enjoyed a tenfold growth over the next 12 years, and he sold the business to other investors in the mid-1980s.
While attending college in Wichita, he met his wife, Mary Jane, who survives. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this fall. They enjoyed many years in Columbus at Harrison Lake, eventually retiring in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Other survivors include their two children, son, Rick (Susan) Curry of Columbus, and daughter, Paula Curry of Phoenix, Arizona; sisters, Jeanette Woodworth of Seymour, Frances Wilkerson and Elizabeth Branum of Indianapolis; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Ruth Justus and Lois (Cecil) Schaekel.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. April 8 at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Memorials may be made to Sherman Home, Hospice of the Valley, 5801 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054 or to Desert Hills Presbyterian Church.