Wednesday
December 25th, 2024
2:17PM
Mr. G. Curtis Pethel, age 95, a native of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Born on August 22, 1929, Curtis was the son of the late Floyd Dilmus Pethel and Clara Graham Pethel. He grew up on Broad Street in Gainesville alongside his elder brother, Royce, and two sisters, Nannerl and Doris, all of whom preceded him in death.
A graduate of Gainesville High School, Curtis excelled in both football and baseball. Shortly after graduation, he married the love of his life, LaRue Bell, with whom he shared 70 devoted years until her passing in 2021.
When the Korean War began, Curtis proudly served his country as a lithographer in the U.S. Navy at the command center in Arlington, VA, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to service. Upon returning home, .he continued his career in printing, working for and eventually co-owning Matthew Printing Company. He was deeply involved in his community: serving as President of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, holding the position of Grand Counsellor of the UCT for the Georgia-Florida region, and maintaining memberships in the Kiwanis, Elks, American Legion, and Lakewood Baptist Church. In each endeavor, he brought leadership, integrity, and a generous heart.
Curtis is survived by his daughter, Melinda, as well as nieces, nephews, and many cherished friends who will remember his unwavering dedication, kind spirit, and gentle humor.
Services:
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, located at 989 Riverside Drive in Gainesville, Georgia. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home, with interment to follow in Alta Vista Cemetery, including military honors.
In Lieu of Flowers:
The family requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army at https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/gainesville-corps/donate-financially, or mailed to 711 Dorsey Street, Gainesville, Georgia, 30501, as a lasting tribute to Curtis’s generous spirit.
Memorial Park Riverside Chapel is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
