Justus Ed McCurty

Justus 'Ed' McCurty, 95, of Denver, PA, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
He was born at Sloan Hospital in New York City on August 14, 1929, the only child to Harvey L McCurty and Victoria Strano.
In his early childhood he lived in Poughkeepsie and attended kindergarten in Arlington. In 1935 he returned to NYC to live with his maternal grandparents and attended grade school at PS141 in Manhattan.
He was a communicant of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he attended Sunday School and was a boy soprano in the church choir. Activities included swimming, scouting thru the YMCA, Astronomy club at the Museum of Natural History and a youth group member sponsored by the NYC Parks Commission. He returned to Dutchess County in 1941 attending 7th grade at the Wappingers Falls Central School and then to Arlington School District in 1942.
During his high school years, he was active in marching, symphony, and jazz bands, intramural sports, Arlington Dutch Reformed Church youth group, Poughkeepsie Grange where he held several offices, and very active in Troup 2 Boy Scouts of America where he attained the rank of Ranger in the newly formed post of Explorer Scouts.
He graduated from Arlington High School in 1947, After high school he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. In 1950 he started as an apprentice tool and die maker at IBM, Poughkeepsie responsible for designing, building, and repairing various tools used to produce IBM Business Machines. He was promoted to Tool and Equipment Design. In 1957 he was 'loaned' to the IBM Research Center to design and build prototype diffusion furnaces, germanium crystal growing units and vacuum deposition systems that was the start of the semi-conductor program at IBM. As the program became successful, he returned to manufacturing engineering and spent the ensuing years providing the furnace, vacuum and robotic systems needed to produce the transistors, substrates, and chips for the computer systems. For his job, he traveled to Boston, MA and Wetzlar, Germany. After 40 years, he retired as a Senior Engineer in 1990. He then accepted a consulting position with ALCOA in San Diego, CA, assisting in designing and installing a ceramic substrate manufacturing production line. He retired in 1994.
Ed married his high school sweetheart, Millicent 'Joy' Humphries on November 4, 1950, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, NY and even after 74 years of marriage, Ed always referred to her as "my bride."
A deeply religious man, he was active at the former St. Andrew's Church as a lay reader, warden, secretary, vestry member, superintendent of Sunday School, youth council advisor, building and grounds committee chair, sponsor for both cub pack and boy scout units, and some time cook as the church sponsored spaghetti dinners and pancake dinners for the community. He was very involved in Boy Scout Pack 17 as Cub master, Asst. Scoutmaster and was team chaperone and driver to 30 boys traveling via bus to Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM. He was the bus driver and band booster for the Roosevelt High School Marching Band. He was a past master of the Masons Triune Lodge 782 and committee member of the Hyde Park Water District. He enjoyed summers with his family vacationing at their summer camp on the Great Sacandaga Reservoir in upstate NY. He, along with his wife were members and presidents of the Do-C-Do Square and Round Dance Club of Poughkeepsie where he met many life-long friends. After retirement he volunteered from 1997-2013 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in the Medical Library, Hospital Auxiliary, and the Food Services Department. He enjoyed traveling extensively throughout Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, and Alaska, as well as cruising the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and around South America thru the Panama Canal.
He loved being a great-grandfather, and was referred to, by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Opa". He was a loyal and loving husband, a good father, a hard worker. He enjoyed reading Clive Cussler novels, working on his Lionel train display, listening to, and attending bag pipe band events, decorating for Christmas, and German food. He always attended his children's musical concerts and band competitions. He was a good cook and made the best thanksgiving gravy. He gave great hugs and enjoyed the company of wonderful friends over the years, especially over a dark beer. He was proud to be an American and always stood with his hand on his heart for the flag.
In 2018 Joy and Ed relocated to live with their daughter Pamella and her family where he enjoyed seeing his great-grandchildren often, watching old movies, corresponding with friends on his computer, going out for lunch and going to the theater.
Ed was an associate member of Brickerville United Lutheran Church, Lititz.
In July, his beautiful 'bride' Joy passed away. He is survived by four sons, Gregory (late, Vera) of Poughkeepsie, Jeffrey of Pleasant Valley, Timothy (late Karen) of Rhinebeck and Todd of Altamont NY, one daughter, Pamella (John) of Denver, PA, six grandchildren, Erin, Emily (Tim S), Jack, Casey McCurty, and Justin (Laura) and Jordan (Sarah) Cramer as well as two great-grandchildren, Josie and Johnny Cramer.
Burial will be private at the LaGrange Rural Cemetery at a later date by Auchmoody Shoonmaker Funeral Home, Poughkeepsie, NY.
Memorial donations in memory of Ed may be made to: Brickerville United Lutheran Church, 340 E 28th Division Highway, Lititz, PA 17543.
Arrangements by Roseboro Stradling Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. Denver.