Arthur Ray Currin

OXFORD:

Arthur Ray Currin passed away on August 19, 2012 in the early morning hours at his home in Oak Hill Township of Northern Granville County, surrounded by his family. Arthur is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Marie Gupton Currin, and his four children and their families. His eldest son is Theodore R. Currin, married to Leslie T. Currin. Ted and Leslie’s children are Theodore Joseph Currin and Mary Hannah Currin—all of Stoneville, North Carolina. His second eldest son is Thomas L. Currin of Oxford, North Carolina, married to Grey T. Currin. Tom and Grey’s children are Patrick T. Currin and Katherine Currin. His daughter is Cynthia M. Currin of Raleigh, North Carolina, married to John Frederick Webb III. Cynthia and John’s children are Suzanne M. Webb and Caroline K. Webb. His youngest son is Timothy D. Currin of Oxford, North Carolina, married to Brenda F. Currin.

Arthur was the retired Sheriff of Granville County and a decorated World War II veteran. He was also a tobacco and beef cattle farmer.

Arthur was a lifelong devoted member of Amis Chapel Baptist Church. He served the Church as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher, organizer, fund raiser and Brunswick Stew cook.

Arthur was the son of Joseph Thomas Currin and Beatrice West Currin. He was preceded in death by his brothers Benjamin Thomas Currin and George Alva Currin and his sister Alma C. Lewis. He is survived by his younger brother, Mac Greyson Currin of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Arthur was born on May 11, 1924. He was a graduate of Oak Hill High School. He served in the 103rd Infantry Division of the United States Army in the Spring Offensive of 1945 in France, Germany and Austria when he was 20 years old. Arthur was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Arthur was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.

Arthur returned to Oak Hill, Granville County in 1946 after serving as a member of the occupation forces in Germany where he attended the Nuremburg Trials. Following in his father’s footsteps in law enforcement, he became a Deputy Sheriff in 1953. As a child he had often ridden in his father’s T-Model Ford almost twenty miles to Oxford to sit on the front row and listen to Superior Criminal Court. He served as Deputy Sheriff for 10 years and as Granville County’s Chief Alcohol Law Enforcement Officer for 17 years. Arthur completed his service as the High Sheriff of Granville County from 1980 to 1986.

Arthur was a founding member and officer of the Granville County Historical Society. He frequently served as a speaker for historical programs and gave tours of historical sites in Granville County.

Arthur had been active in the American Legion and VFW since 1947. He served as the Commander of the Oxford Post of the American Legion from 2005 to 2010. He was awarded the Commander Award by the Earnest T. Hart Post 90 for his loyalty, devoted service and leadership. He regularly organized memorial services honoring military men and women on Memorial and Veterans’ Day. Arthur and his wife Marie travelled on five occasions to Europe in the last 30 years to attend veterans’ events and memorial services. He served as a delegate from the 103rd Division to the dedication of the memorial at Pfaffenhoffen, Alsace to the liberators of France. He and Marie frequently attended 103rd Division Army Reunions and national meetings across the United States.

In 2005, Arthur was the recipient of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Award for outstanding community service.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 2:00 PM in Amis Chapel Baptist Church by the Rev. Terry Howard. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday night from 7:00 until 8:30 at the home of Thomas and Grey Currin, 316 main Street Oxford. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Amis Chapel Baptist Church , c/o Gerald Rene Frazier, 9189 Amis Chapel Rd., Oxford, NC 27565.

Online memorials www.hallwynne.com select obituaries. Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home is assisting the Currin family.