Rev. Lyle William Curtis

The Reverend Lyle William Curtis, age 79, peacefully passed from this life into the presence of his Savior on Saturday, February 6, 2021, surrounded by his loving wife and four children after a brief but courageous battle with illness.  His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.

Lyle was born to the late Reverend Henry Monroe, Jr., and Lorene Curtis, a Nazarene minister and homemaker, respectively, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, on November 4, 1941.  As the oldest of four children, he was raised in modest surroundings but was richly blessed to be a part of a loving, nurturing family and Christian community that would shape him, define him, and later support him.  Lyle developed a love for the Lord at an early age and a grasp of Scripture that far exceeded his young age.  His parents soon realized Lyle had a special call on his life as he displayed a mind for organization, mastery of details, and a sensitivity of spirit that was an exception in one so young.  As a child and teenager, Lyle excelled academically, played sports, sang in glee club, and began a lifelong love of the St. Louis Cardinals and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.  Lyle graduated from Ada, Oklahoma, High School in 1959, together with his wife-to-be.

Lyle attended Southern Nazarene University (SNU) and studied to be a minister.  On August 31, 1962, Lyle married Dilda Brinkley, also from Ada, OK, while both attended SNU.  After graduation and the birth of the couple's first child, Lyle embarked on a 45-year career as a minister, pastor, and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene.  During this time, he completed his master's degree from SNU.  Over the years, his family grew to four children as he continued to shepherd congregations throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois.

Throughout his professional life, service to his community and others was of utmost importance to Lyle.  He was well-known for his role as International Quiz Master for the Church of the Nazarene, overseeing youth Bible quizzes for 30 years.  He was also an avid and distinguished supporter of Rotary International, a membership he held for over 46 years.

Lyle was a voracious reader and lifelong student of history.  His mastery of historical facts was without parallel.  In the latter years of his life, Lyle enjoyed teaching, gardening, spending time with his grandkids, golf, and traveling, completing his lifelong dream of visiting all 50 states.  One of his life's greatest joys was being a snowbird and living in Sun City, Arizona, where he was frequently found on the golf course.  However, in each stage of life, sharing God's love and living as an example of Christian behavior was always his passion.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Monroe, Jr., and Lorene; his father and mother-in-law, Mitchell and Cora Bell Brinkley; siblings, Kenneth Curtis, Sharon Dilling; son-in-law, Darren Tehven; nephews Doug Brinkley, Jr.,(Doug) and Justin Brinkley (Dwayne).  Lyle is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dilda; his four children, Cynthia Simms [Tim] of Montgomery, IL, Laura Kunzler [Kent] of Olathe, KS, Shelly Tehven, of Lenexa, KS, and Tim Curtis [Aimee], of Lenexa, KS; his five grandchildren, Samantha [Kaleb] and Rachel (Laura), Lillian, Colin, and Lidia (Tim); his one precious great-grandchild, Kade (Samantha); his brother Charles Curtis of Edcouch, TX; his in-laws, Doyle [Freda] Brinkley of Greenville, TX; Doug Brinkley, Bethany, OK, Dwayne [Claudia] Brinkley of Dallas, TX; his nieces and nephews, Keith Curtis (Kenneth) of Seattle, WA, Debra Curtis (Kenneth) of Seattle, WA, Nathan Brinkley (Doyle) of Dallas, TX; Chip Dilling (Sharon) of Oklahoma City, OK, Beth Courter [Scott] (Sharon) of Edmond, OK, Tiffany Curtis (Charles) of Harlingen, TX, and Kyle Brinkley [Ashley] of Dallas, TX; and several great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration for Lyle will be announced at a later date.