Barbourville businessman Curtis Deweese Congleton Sr. died on May 8, 2017 and was cremated in accordance with his wishes. A graveside service was to be scheduled for a later date.

Mr. Congleton was the husband of the late Marty Viall Congleton. Their children are Curtis Congleton Jr. and Sally Congleton King.

Curtis Congleton was born in 1934 in the coal camp of Tway, Kentucky, in Knox County. His love for those days and his interest in the coal and lumber industry brought him to the Knox Historical Museum on several occasions, during which he would peruse old photos and documents and discuss bygone days.

In a testament to his interest in the local museum, the family has asked that expressions of sympathy may go to the Knox Historical Museum at P.O. Box 1446, Barbourville, Kentucky.

Mr. Congleton also was a former member of the basketball team at the University of Kentucky and a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The complete obituary follows:

CONGLETON, Curtis D. Sr. (1934 - 2017)

BARBOURVILLE - Mr. Curtis Deweese Congleton Sr., 83, of Barbourville, Kentucky joined his beloved wife, Marty, in Glory on Monday May 8th, 2017 where we know they ran into each other's arms healed and whole. His wish to be cremated has been honored. A graveside memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.

The second son of Isaac and Beulah Johnson Congleton, Curtis was born in April of 1934 in the coal camp of Tway, Kentucky where he spent many days as a child perched on a rock watching coal trains come and go. Curtis was the devoted husband of his lifelong sweetheart Martha Frances Viall Congleton, whom he married January 27th, 1957. Curtis and Marty brought two children into the world: Curtis Congleton, Jr. and Sally Congleton King. Curtis was a proud alumnus of both Barbourville High School and The University of Kentucky, fight, fight, fighting in his blue and white. A lifelong sports fan he played football and basketball in high school, walked on the basketball team at UK, then continued to cheer on his children, grandchildren and any opponent of Tennessee or Duke. While at UK, Curtis was a proud brother of the Kentucky Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, as well as a member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles and the National Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade. Curtis commissioned into the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant following his time in the ROTC program at UK. He and Marty made lifelong friends at his stations in Aberdeen, Maryland and Fort Smith, Arkansas. In 1963 Curt brought his family back to Barbourville where he worked for the Viall Lumber Company. After his time with the lumber company he farmed for several years until becoming full time caregiver for Marty. During that time he spent the few moments away from Marty fixing, tinkering and improving what he could around the house, working in the garden or in the yard, often with apprentices Alex and Stuart in tow.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marty; his father and mother, Isaac and Beulah; brothers, Jon Tyler Congleton and Lee Congleton; his father and mother in-law, Bob and Ann Viall and sister-in-law, Joan Viall.

Survivors include his children, Curtis Congleton, Jr. and Sally Congleton King (John David); his grandchildren, Alex King (Megan), Stuart King (Lindsey), Sarah Congleton and Tanner Congleton; his brother, Joe Congleton (Rose) and sister-in-law, Bobbie Congleton; his dear cousin, Susan Congleton Slusher; nieces and nephews, Debbie Schwartz (John), Mindy Congleton, Lee Congleton (Jackie), Tyler Congleton (Vee), Mallary Walker (Jonathan), John Robert Hauser and Billy Hauser; along with many other dear family members and friends.

A special thank you to Dr. Lee Congleton, Dr. Tom Ashburn, Dr. Matthew Moore; Shauna Hudson and the staff at Barbourville Family Health; his very special caregivers, Lovella Smith, Martha and Lonnie Wilson, Caroline Mills, Betty Gibson, Eulene Garland, Axie Jordan, Beverly Garland, Brenda Frazier, among others; Knox County Home Health Services and Bluegrass Hospice Care for all of their care and attention.

In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may go to the Knox County Historical Society/Museum, P.O. Box 1446, Barbourville, KY 40906. To send condolences to the family, visit www.knoxfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.

Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on May 12, 2017