Dennis Curry - Father, Lawyer, Marine

Dennis Hugh Curry, 69, of Spencer, WV (formerly of Fairmont) passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born in Fairmont on August 20, 1943, a son of the late Carroll Hugh and Opal (Gates) Curry. 

Dennis attended Fairmont Senior High School and graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1961. He attended West Virginia Wesleyan College and graduated from Fairmont State College in 1965 with a degree in Industrial Arts. 

He proudly served his country with the U.S. Marine Corps, joining in 1962. He was commissioned an officer in May, 1965. He was deployed on aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and deployed in Norway. In 1967, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he was promoted to Captain and became an infantry company commander. He engaged in 26 combat operations including several amphibious landings. 

Dennis graduated from West Virginia University College of Law in 1971 and practiced law in Fairmont for several years. He was the first Municipal Judge for the City of Fairmont. Later, he practiced law in Spencer, WV. 

He was a member of the West Virginia State Bar, the Marine Corps League and was a life member of the National Rifle Association. In the past, he competed in several regional and national pistol competitions. 

He is survived by his three loving daughters, Hillarey Carder and her husband Dan of Masontown, Ashley Gillespie and her husband Scott of Morgantown and Erin VanGilder and her husband Brent of Carolina Beach, NC and seven grandchildren, Macey Carder, Benjamin Carder, Cayton Carder, Ian Gillespie, Mairin Gillespie, Beau VanGilder and Brooke VanGilder. 

Also surviving is the mother of his children, Susan Metheny Davis of Fairmont, two brothers, Roger D. Curry and his wife Janet Curry of Fairmont and Rev. Joel Curry and his wife Dr. Shara Curry of Glenville as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends may call at Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home, 209 Merchant St. Fairmont on Sunday from 1-8 pm and Monday from 10-11 am. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 11 am with Rev. Joel Curry, brother of the deceased, officiating. 

Interment will follow at the WV National Cemetery in Pruntytown [near Grafton] where full military honors will be conducted by the Marion County Veterans Council Honor Guard. 

Online memories and condolences may be left for the family at www.carpenterandford.com