R. Curtis Mueller

R. CURTIS MUELLER, 85, passed away on April 6, 2023. He was the first born to Ray and Louise Mueller in Berea Ohio on March 27, 1938. He lived in Ohio until he was eight years old when his family moved to Denver, CO.  After three years the family moved again, this time to Greeley, CO. Curt graduated from high school in Greeley and attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs where he had a Union Carbide four-year tuition and books scholarship. Following college graduation when he received a BS in physics, he was offered a teaching fellowship at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and two years later received an MS in physics. In 1962 Curt was offered a job at Sandra National Labs where he became a member of technical staff. He retired after a 30-year career at Sandia.

 

As soon as Curt arrived in Albuquerque, he joined Christ United Methodist Church where he was an usher and a Cub Scout leader (a carryover from the days when he was a Boy Scout himself); he was also a member of the stewardship committee, the Square Up’s square dance club, and the young people’s Wesley singles group. 

 

Curt loved to teach. One of his passions was tutoring young people in science and math. He volunteered as a tutor at Highland High School for the one year they sponsored tutoring, He also tutored for nearly 20 years at La Cueva High School and for a short period at Amy Beil High. Over the years, he tutored sons and daughters of friends. He never charged for his help.

 

Computers were of great interest to Curt. He loved to create pictures with Adobe Illustrator on his Mac. He was the computer and math chair for the Regional Science Fair for many years at the University of New Mexico, again demonstrating his love for teaching and young people.

 

Curt and Virginia belonged to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for a time. Curt taught himself to sail by reading books and then once again doing what he loved, he taught others to sail.

 

Another passion was model railroading. Curt owned almost every book published about the Union Pacific Railway and loved to plan railroad model layouts.

 

Curt loved the outdoors and especially camping. He and Virginia went on many camping trips together and with friends.

 

Curt is survived by Virginia, his wife of almost 55 years, and his nephew Byron Mueller, Byron’s wife Jennifer and their three children Callie, Ben, and Matthew of Monument, Colorado. 

 

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 6200 Gibson Blvd. SE in Albuquerque. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Curt’s name to the Christ United Methodist Young Adult Group.