Roll Call Tribute

Curtis Harlin, Jr.
October 26, 1920 - September 5, 2020

Dr. Curtis Chester Harlin Jr. died peacefully on September 5, in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 99. He was born on October 26, 1920, in Plainview, Texas, to Bertha May Dodd Harlin and Curtis Chester Harlin Sr. who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Judy; daughter, Darla Ann Harlin Inman; grandchildren, Heather Harlin Mabry, Michelle Inman, and Robert Inman; and great-grandchildren, Durbin Inman, Wilder Inman, Mia Mabry, and Mason Mabry. Curtis is also survived by several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Harlin and his son, Curtis C. Harlin III.

Curtis, a World War II Veteran, enlisted in the U.S. Army August 21, 1942, and served in the Army Ordnance Corps attached to the Army Air Corps (1942-1944). In 1944 he was reassigned as Infantry and served in the European theater (1945-1946).

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Curtis graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. (1950) and M.S. (1952) in civil engineering, and later an Sc.D. (1962) in environmental engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He worked professionally as a municipal engineer in Abilene, Irving, and Waco, Texas. After earning his Sc.D. Curtis accepted professorship appointments at the University of Alabama and the University of Wisconsin. Leaving academia in 1964, Curtis accepted a position with the U.S. federal government doing environmental research and development. In 1999 he retired from the Environmental Protection Agency after 35 years of federal civil service.

A funeral is scheduled for 11AM Wednesday, September 9, at Pax Christi Catholic Church followed by a private final burial at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Father Dan Noll will officiate the ceremony.

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