Catherine D. 'Katie' Curl

Catherine 'Katie' Combs (Tharp) Curl, 84, of Zanesville, Ohio, formerly of Crooksville went to be with her Lord at 12:15 A.M., Wednesday, April 27,2 016 at Brookdale Zanesville Assisted Living following a sudden illness.

She was born May 14, 1931 in Roseville, the daughter of the late Carl M. and Samantha Brown Combs.

Katie was a 1949 graduate of Roseville High School and later received her Masters Degree in Special Education from Ohio University in Athens.

Her first job at the age of sixteen was painting plates for Mary Ungemach pottery. After the death of her first husband, George Tharp, Jr., she acquired her first permanent job as secretary to the superintendent of Roseville High School. She later became a teacher and was one of the original teachers at the Starlight School in Zanesville. She taught first and second grade at East School in Crooksville, later teaching Special Education at Crooksville's K-8, from which she retired in 1989.

In the 1980's, she was a member of the Crooksville School Board. In 1956, Katie became a member of American Legion Unit 222 Ladies Auxiliary in Crooksville. She was Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Ohio and Chaplain of that department. She was a former member of the 8 & 40 -Somerset which is the Ladies Auxiliary of the 40 & 8. In addition, she was a former member of the Perry County Retired Teachers Association.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Melody and Bob Kirkwood of Roseville and Rossanna and Mark Cale of Zanesville; her sister-in-law and brothers-in law, Barbara and Bill Ridenour of East Fultonham and Herb and Joann Chambers of Zanesville; six grandchildren, Catherine Ann (Chad) Rodgers, Lee Kirkwood, Sean (Heather) Kirkwood, Mark (Steffany) Redfern, Michael Hribar, and Megan (Zach) Young and seven great grandchildren, Mike, Erin, Bill, Lydiah, Taylor, Zachie and Damian and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, George Tharp, Jr. who passed away in September 1954; her second husband, Billy Lee Curl, who passed away in May 1989; her sister, Marie VanWey; her brothers, James Valentine, Howard Valentine, Neil Combs and an infant brother who died at birth.

Family and friends will be received 1:00-5:00 P.M and 6:00-8:00 P.M., Friday, April 29 at GOEBEL FUNERAL HOME, 36 N. BUCKEYE ST., CROOKSVILLE where American Legion Auxiliary will hold services at some time throughout the day. Funeral services and a celebration of Katie's life will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 30 with Rev. Gay E. Blau officiating. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Katie's memory to Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 10080 E. Athens Rd., Roseville, OH 43777 or American Legion Auxiliary Unit 222, c/o Joy Alexander, Secretary, 352 Sand St., Crooksville, OH 43731. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

You may read the obituary, sign the Online Register Book (Memory Wall) and share a special memory with the family at www.goebelfuneralhome.com