Norman Dale Curry

1933 - 2026

Norman Dale Curry was born November 15, 1933 in Indianapolis, IN. He was the son of Helen Annetta Reasoner Curry and George Dewey Curry. He had two brothers and a sister who preceded him in death, Gene A. Curry of Indianapolis, IN, Rev. Marvin R. Curry of St. Louis, MO, and Ruth E. Curry Norman of Indianapolis, IN. Norm passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 at his home.

He married Eleanore Giltner in 1959 and she died January 1968. He married Carolyn Galbraith in July 1970 and she passed away August 2012. Norm has 3 children; Tim Lee Curry who died June 1984 while serving in the U.S. Army; Kimberly K. (Tim) Curry Dillingham, and James N. (Misty) Curry. Norm is also survived by granddaughters, Emily (Jay) Phelps, Courtney (Josh) Smith; great-grandchildren, Chloie Phelps, Ezekiel Phelps, Hayden Phelps, Kaydenze Brock, Jaxton Smith and Tate Smith; nieces, Jill Curry, Dawn (Jeff) Ross, Karla (Rob) Melnotte and Terri Tucker; nephews, Kent (Sade) Curry and Jerry (Nikki) Curry.

Norm graduated from Arsenal Technical Schools in Indianapolis in 1951 and Butler University in 1963. He attended Indiana University Law School in Indianapolis before transferring to the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables, FL where he received a Juris Doctor Degree. He also graduated from the Indiana Judicial College and attended the National Judicial College in Reno, NV.

While attending Butler University he was nominated by the faculty and listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He went to law school on a Cummins scholarship at the age of 35 with his wife and 3 children.

He was admitted to the Indiana Bar, Florida Bar and the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana in 1972. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1977.

Growing up in Indianapolis he worked in a neighborhood grocery store, delivered the Indianapolis Times Newspaper, cleaned used bricks, and started a career in Heating and Air Conditioning and doing everything from tearing out old coal furnaces, servicing coal stokers, oil and gas furnaces and eventually worked installing both heating and air conditioning. While attending Butler he designed and sold both heating and air conditioning. In 1963 he joined Cummins Engine Company, working in Quality Control Management and Environmental Management.

After leaving Cummins in 1975, he served as Indiana Deputy Attorney General where represented the state in the courts of 66 counties, all the Federal Courts in the State, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago and in the United States Supreme Court. He then practiced law in Columbus until September 1987 when he was appointed by Governor Robert D. Orr to be Judge, Bartholomew County Court 2. He served their full time until December 31, 1999. He became Senior Judge the next day and served in the that capacity until December 2013 when he retired at age 80. As senior Judge he served in 15 Southern Indiana Courts plus he mediated over 600 civil and family cases throughout south central-Indiana.

Judge Curry was active in the committees of the Indiana Judiciary plus many community and state positions. Locally he was on the boards of Children, Inc., Housing Partnership, Community Corrections Advisory Board and other Community Functions. He was a member of Columbus Bartholomew Telecommunications Commission, San Souci, McDowell Partnership Advisory Board. He also served as Board member of Baptist Homes of Indiana (Now BHI Senior Living, Inc) for 31 years, three as Chairman of the Board. He also headed two HUD housing facilities for low income and disabled persons for the same period.

Norm was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbus beginning in 1975. During that time, he served in many leadership roles, including Trustees, Diaconate Board, Long Range Planning Committee, Church Moderator, and Sunday School Teacher. In 1998, he was elected Vice-President of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, he became President in 1999, and served on the Board as past president in 2000.

He attended Men's Bible study Fellowship for 7 years and continued daily Bible study until his death. He was active in the Columbus Area Emmaus Community and served on its Board for 3 years. He and his late wife Carolyn were Santa and Mrs. Clause for 18 years and he also served as Uncle Sam in the Veteran's Day Parade.

Norm was a U.S. Air Force Veteran on active duty from 1953 - 1957. He served 2 years in the Far East. While in the Air Force, he learned to fly and he owned and flew his own planes until 1974.

A private inurnment will be held at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery, at a later date, with military rites provided by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Funeral Service & Crematory.