Curtis Erwin Jr.

Curtis Erwin, Jr., 94, of Midland, Texas, passed away at his home in Midland on Thursday, July 12, 2018. A service to commemorate Mr. Erwin's life and celebrate his return to his Lord will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Midland, 1412 West Illinois Street, at 10:30 a.m. Father David Galletly will preside over the service. A beloved husband, father and grandfather Curtis Erwin, Jr., was born on May 14, 1924, in Galveston to Curtis and Viola (Powell) Erwin. As a boy growing up in Colorado City, Texas, Curtis joined the Boy Scouts of America, where he completed projects in civics, scholarship, camping, firemanship, photography, and farm home and planning to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor attainable in the organization and an achievement realized by less than four percent of Boy Scouts. After graduating from Colorado City High School, Curtis attended Texas A & M University, Class of 1945, where he served as a member of the Corp of Cadets. Curtis, like many young men in those years, joined the military and served his country during World War II as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp, where he flew P-51 Mustangs in the Pacific Theater. On August 9, 1945, Curtis and his flight crew were in the area of Nagasaki when the Allied Forces dropped the second atomic bomb, a story he recently recounted to members of his church. Upon returning to the United States after the war, Curtis received his Bachelors of Science degree from Texas A & M in 1948. Curtis married Mary Louise Logan on November 27, 1952, in Colorado City, Texas. The couple moved to Midland in 1968 with their son, David, and it was in West Texas that Curtis devoted the rest of his life to raising cattle and farming his land, the Figure 4 Ranch in Midland and Martin Counties. A philanthropist and devoted Episcopalian, Curtis was deeply involved in the civic life of his community and he was a member of several cattle associations. As an active and beloved member of his church, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Curtis particularly enjoyed cooking breakfast at church on Wednesday mornings with the men's morning group. An accomplished aviator and member of the Quiet Birdmen, Curtis enjoyed flying sailplanes and the P-51 Mustang. He enjoyed spending time at his house in Cloudcroft with friends from Midland, and he loved farming, ranching and raising cattle, as well as spending time with his family. He especially loved working at the ranch with his son, David Erwin, and he loved Texas A & M. Curtis is survived by his son David Erwin; daughter-in-law Julie; and grandson Christopher, whom he adored. The family wishes to thank the staff at Nurses Unlimited and Hospice of Midland, with a special thank-you to his caregivers, Victor Dominguez and Yecenia Sigala. In lieu of flowers, the family hopes that friends and family of Curtis will consider making a donation to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Midland. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.