Henry MacDonald "Don" Curl

May 28, 1916 - October 28, 2009

Henry MacDonald "Don" Curl, 93, of Galena, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at St. Ann's Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born in Columbus on May 28, 1916 to James G. and Bloom (Parrett) Curl.

Don was a consulting engineer, operating Ralph & Curl Engineers of Columbus, which he co-founded in 1950. Prior to that, he was an aircraft engineer at Curtis-Wright during World War II. Don went to North High School and graduated from The Ohio State University. While at OSU, he was a four year member of the OSU Marching Band (TBDBITL). He was in the first performance of the famous Script Ohio and dotted the "I" on one occasion. He was in the Alumni OSU Marching Band from its inception, playing his trumpet and marching through his 91st year. He had his own dance band which played for Columbus events for nearly 70 years and he also played in several Shrine bands.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Mary Ruth (O'Reilly) Curl, oldest son James E. Curl, parents, step-mother Mary (Minor) Curl and brother James G. (Whitey) Curl, who was killed in WWII in the skies over Germany. Curl Drive on the Ohio State campus is named in his honor. Surviving him are his sons, Richard M. (Naomi) Curl, Robert D. (Janet) Curl, and Joseph P. (Deborah-deceased) Curl, all of whom live in the metropolitan Columbus area; grandchildren, Vicki (Jason) Nash, Donna (Rick) Blanch, Jennifer (Nick Hannum), Camille, Robert Jr., Christopher, and Sarah Curl, all of Columbus, and Elizabeth (Tracy) Reep of Grand Prairie, Tex.; great-grandson, Brendan; sister-in-law, Dorothy Meeks of Portland, Oreg.; daughter-in-law, Mary Curl of Tex.; and special cousin, Ada May Burke of Circleville.

Don was a member of several professional engineering societies, the Alladin Shrine, Lions, the OSU President's Club, and Script Ohio Club. He was Scout Master in Boy Scouts, Troop 166, Bexley, Oh. Don always enjoyed the outdoors and his family traveled in the western states, climbing mountains and hiking.

Funeral service will be held 11 am Monday, November 2, 2009 at Schoedinger Worthington Chapel, 6699 N. High St. Worthington, Oh. Fr. James Ogurchock, officiating. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 pm. Interment in Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don's honor to The Script Ohio Club, PO Box 14769, Columbus, Ohio 43214.

Don was a member of the marching band from 1934 through 1938, playing trumpet.