He was born May
8, 1953 at the Catawba Hospital in Newton, N.C., at 2:19 P.M.,
almost ten years after the birth of his brother, William (Billy)
Ray Loftin. Curtis weighed 8 lbs. 10 ½ oz. and was 20 inches long.
Sam & Willie were living on E.
Bandys Rd. when Curtis was born, but moved to Hwy. 10 in 1954.
Sam was 34-years-old and Willie was 27-years-old.
Curtis'
Birth Certificate from the Catawba Hospital in Newton, NC
Curtis'
Parents
Sam William Loftin & Willie Aleen Goble
A number of
children in the 1950s had a virus that resulted in dysentery
that the doctors couldn’t control or get stopped.
Curtis came down
with the same malady. The Doctors actually gave up on him and
said he was going to die, and wouldn’t live through the night.
Willie and Sam started praying - asking God to heal him.
Suddenly they both stood up at the same time and said, “He’ll be
better in the morning!” Willie's sister,
Helen, said,
“I don’t
believe it. I heard the Doctor’s say he wouldn’t live through
the night.” But God had other plans and Curtis did live.
Curtis in
1954
In 1954, Sam and Willie moved their family to the last house
that Sam built - located on Hwy 10, Catawba, NC. Their
neighbor, Flora
Edwards Stewart, kept Curtis as a small boy while
Willie was working.
[For more information about Curtis, follow the
link to Flora Edwards Stewart's page and go to the bottom of the
page]
(Left)
Martin
Goble, Curtis & Sam, Fred Isenhour
Celebrate May Birthdays
(Right) Curtis, age 3, at the Balls Creek Campground, 1956
During this
time, Curtis’ maternal grandparents,
Martin &
Nessie Goble, were
living with Fred & Lib Isenhour in the old Lowrance house on
Lowrance Rd., out of Catawba. On one occasion, Willie had left
Curtis with Grandma Goble for the day. He and his cousin, Marie
(Fred & Lib’s youngest daughter) were playing in the barn with a
cat. One of the two got the bright idea to take some paint
they had found and paint the cat. Well, they did! When Grandma
Goble found out, she was furious - and whipped Marie. For some
reason, she let Curtis slide without a whipping.
(Below)
Curtis on the swing outside his house
It was around that time that Sam fell off of a house during
construction and broke his leg and was unable to work. During
one of those days, when Curtis was 5-years-old, he decided to
walk to Catawba Elementary to see his brother, Billy Ray. He
went to his parent’s bedroom, got a clean shirt out of the
closet and put it on. He started walking toward Catawba, but
only walked about ¼ mile before he got scared and returned
home. That evening, Curtis told Billy Ray that he had started
to walk to Catawba in order to see him at school. Billy Ray
told their Dad, and Curtis got one of the few whippings he ever
got from his Daddy.
Grandma Nessie
Goble died in February 1959, the same year that Curtis started
First Grade at Catawba Elementary School. The school was a
two-story building with a basement. There was only one class
for each grade level. Grades one through four were on the
ground floor and grades five through eight (and the library were
on the second-floor. Student bathrooms, teacher’s lounge,
custodial storage, and the school store (where they sold ice
cream after lunch) was located in the basement.
"I had my first girlfriend in 2nd grade. Irene Davis was our
teacher. The girl's name was Patricia and I really liked her -
or as much as you can like someone when you're 7 years old. She
was a blonde haired beauty whose father had murdered her mother
so Pat ended up living with another family in the community. On
one particular day, our class had gone to the auditorium to see
a movie. I don't remember what it was, but it might have been
"The Littlest Angel" because we watched it several times when I
was in grammar school. I was sitting beside of Pat and she said
to me, "Close your eyes and wipe off your mouth". Those were the
most romantic words I had ever heard - and I quickly complied.
Pat gave me sweetest kiss - right there on the lips. It was
amazing. But love, even young love, doesn't always go the way
you planned because Pat eventually broke up with me for a boy in
our class named Dwight. I was broken hearted - shed a few tears,
too."
My Second Girlfriend - Africa Here We Come
"In 4th grade, we once again had Irene Davis as our teacher.
One of my favorite things as a 9-year-old boy was the old 1930s
through 1950 black and white Tarzan movies. I watched them all
(including Jungle Jim and Sheena) over at Mrs. Flora Stewarts'
house. [Mrs. Stewart was our neighbor and was like a second
mother to me. She had even kept me when I was a baby and toddler
- teaching me my nursery rhymes. She loved to cook and provided
me with ample amounts of cakes, cookies and pies.] What small
boy wouldn't admire a hero who swung through the trees, wrestled
alligators and lions, and rode on elephants? I for sure did. So
when I got my second girlfriend, Faye (who sat behind me in
class), I included her in my love for the Tarzan movies. I guess
I must have been a romantic little fellow because we planned to
move away tot he jungles of deepest-Africa and live just like
Tarzan and Jane did - in that wonderful treehouse. I even had a
pair of cut-off jeans that were supposed to be my loin cloth. It
was a wonderful fantasy, but little did I know that all of
Trazan's daring deeds took place in Hollywood. I never did get a
kiss from Faye, but she did have one thing in common with Pat.
She broke up with me for Dwight. I would have hated him if he
wasn't such a nice guy."
1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade
4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade
7th Grade 8th
Grade 9th Grade
10th Grade 11th
Grade 12th Grade
At the age of
16, Curtis got his first job working 2nd shift at Betterware
Hosiery Mill in Catawba dying socks. His mother, Willie,
worked there and had inquired at the mill about this first job
opportunity for Curtis. Other summer jobs, over the next
few years included… (1) bagger & stock boy at Johnson’s Food
Store and Twin City # 3 in Catawba, NC, (2) unloading supplies
from trucks & driving tow-motor at Basset in Newton, NC, (3)
unloading, storing, and supplying foam rubber at Reeves Curon
Foam-Rubber in
Conover, NC.
He didn't know
what he wanted to do when he graduated from high school, but
during his Junior year at Bunker Hill, the school Guidance
Counselor suggested that he become a school teacher. She told
him that Principals were always looking for men teachers and
that the position provided good job security. Thus, a lifetime
career path was chosen.
In the summer of
1970, while attending Bible School at
Mathis Chapel Baptist
Church, Curtis invited Jesus/Yeshua into his heart and became a
Christian.
To see photos and learn more about the High
School Years (1967 - 1971) -
CLICK HERE
Curtis applied and was accepted at Appalachian State University
in Boone, N.C. He graduated from ASU June 1, 1975 with a
BS in Elementary Education, Grades 4 - 8, with a concentration
in Math.
To see photos and learn more about Curtis'
years at Appalachian (1971 - 1975),
CLICK HERE
Curtis met
Carolyn Janet Weeks during his Sophomore year at ASU
at at Charismatic Bible Study he was attending on campus.
What started as a close friendship eventually became something
much more.
Curtis Dean Loftin & Carolyn Janet Weeks - 1975
Curtis & Carolyn graduated from Appalachian State University on
June 1, 1975 with plans to get married six days later on June
7th.
Curtis & Carolyn
with Rev. Bobby Taylor
To see photos and learn more about Curtis &
Carolyn's Wedding
and the first year of marriage -
CLICK HERE
In the fall of 1975, Curtis got his first teaching job at
Sherrills Ford Elementary School, teaching 6th Grade Math, 7th
Grade Math & Science, and 8th Grade Math, Science, Health & P.E.
Curtis while
teaching at Sherrills Ford, 1976
Curtis
relocated to Catawba Middle School for his second year of
teaching, 1976 -1977 and was there for 23 years.
Carolyn became
pregnant during this time and gave birth to their first child,
Elizabeth Ann Loftin,
in September 1976.
Philip was born in April of 1978 and Curtis started growing his
beard in May of 1978. Several parents of the students he
taught has told him that he looked too young to be the teacher.
He originally grew the beard to make him look a little older,
but it soon became a part of who he was. It didn't hurt,
either, that Carolyn loved his beard. He only shaved it off once
and that was in the Winter of 1979 during a winter snow storm.
One look in the mirror and he started re-growing the beard the
very next day. One of his friends teasingly told him, "I
didn't know a beard could cover so much ugly".
(Below) Summer 1978
(Right) Summer
1979: Curtis age 26
(Below) 1985: Curtis age 32, Carolyn age 33, Beth age 8, Philip
age 7
Curtis & Carolyn live in
this house at 5149 E. NC 10 Hwy., Catawba, NC
One of the benefits of
teaching was having the summers off to enjoy the pool with the
family
Curtis taught 7th and 8th grade math for the 23 years he was at
Catawba Middle School. During that time he also taught,
Reading, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.
In 1979, after having read the book "D. J.'s Worst Enemy" by
Robert Burch, the class wrote a play based on the book and
produced a dramatic presentation of the story using slides.
Curtis took the class on a field trip to 5 different locations
to get the needed photos for the story.
"D. J.'s Worst Enemy" by
Robert Burch
(Left) Dayne Miller,
Curtis and Tera McDaniel
(Right) Dayne Miller, Tim
Miller, Mrs. Patty Mauney, Tera McDaniel and Curtis
(Left to Right) Curtis,
Layman Mitchell, David Hester, Mack Byers and Angile Roth
Catawba County
built two new middle schools in the eastern part of Catawba
County in 2000. Catawba Middle School was converted into a 6th
Grade school called Catawba Intermediate. The teachers that had
been at Catawba Middle were given a choice between River Bend
Middle and Mill Creek Middle. Curtis chose to go to River Bend
Middle School, across the street from Bunker Hill High School.
He was there for six years until he retired at the end of the
2004 - 2005 school year.
During his
years of teaching, Curtis was Teacher-of-the-Year on several
occasions, including 1994 - 1995. He was chosen as the
Claremont Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator, and he received
the Seacor Math & Science Award twice. In January 2005, Curtis
retired from teaching with 30.5 years. He contracted at that
time to finish out the school year and continued working until
June 2005.
Curtis' 30 Years of Teaching in Catawba County, NC
When Curtis and
Carolyn were first married, they were frequently involved in
youth-related ministry as a result them both being teachers.
While attending ASU, Curtis participated in a Charismatic Bible
Study on campus and also had a year of music lessons pertaining
to his teaching. Once back in Catawba, the Lord opened a door
for him to become Minister of Music in 1977 at Victory Cathedral
in Conover.
Victory Cathedral
NCCF Praise Team
Singing at NCCF
Curtis singing "O Jehovah"
at Newton Conover Christian Fellowship - 1986 -
Click Here
Curtis & Lynn Stewart sing "It's Only the
Beginning"
at Newton Conover Christian Fellowship - 1986 -
CLICK HERE
Licenses & Ordinations
Church
Date
Type
Mathis Chapel Baptist Church
June 4, 1972
Ministry License
Newton Conover Christian Fellowship
Sept 29, 1985
Ministry License
Newton Conover Christian Fellowship
March 29, 1987
Ordination
New Horizon Ministries
June 4, 1989
Ordination
Word of Life Christian Center
Aug 25, 1991
Ordination
Healing Springs Church
1992
Ordination
Olive Branch Ministries
April 3, 1993
Ordination
Curtis served as Minister
of Music and Psalmist at the following Churches &
Congregations
In the late
1980s, Curtis & Carolyn came to realize that God wanted to
restore the relationship between the church and the Jew and they
became involved in the Biblical/Jewish Roots Movement.
Becoming Christian Zionists, they taught Israeli Folk Dance
classes, co-led several Jewish Roots/Messianic home groups, all
the while teaching those who would listen about the importance
of supporting Israel and the Jewish people.
Curtis & Carolyn started
several Israeli Folk Dance Troops over the Years
Teaching
an Advanced Class of dancers at the Zion Center for Worship &
Arts / Dance Camp in 2003
Curtis and a group
of about 25 dancers perform
the Israeli Folk Dance "Ashreinu" at An Evening Honoring Israel
in 2011
Israeli Folk Dance to the song "Ashreinu"
at Beit Yeshua's 10-Year Anniversary -
CLICK HERE
When Curtis and
Carolyn joined Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, they also
started a Friday Shabbat Home Group that eventually became known
as Gates of Praise and then renamed Beit Yeshua (Hebrew for
House of Salvation).
Leading a
Passover
Seder at Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton, NC, 2011
Curtis speaks about
Jerusalem, Israel - the place where God put His Name
at An Evening Honoring Israel in 2011
As Leader of
the group, Curtis is continually trying to lead the
congregation to a deeper relationship with Yeshua/Jesus through
Praise & Worship,
Israeli Folk Dance, observing Shabbat and the
Biblical Festivals, as well as teaching and Torah discussion.
One of the goals of the group is to break down walls of
separation between Israel & the church - to bless and support
Israel both spiritually and financially.
(Left) Curtis
holding the Lulav & Etrog, part of the Sukkot/Feast of
Tabernacles celebration
Curtis & Carolyn had wanted to go to
Israel for many years. In
October 2005, their dream finally came true. With six of their
friends, they joined Barry & Batya Segal (Vision For Israel), toured all over
Israel, and were involved in the Segal's Christian Celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.
Their trip,
which lasted for two weeks, took them from Joppa and Tel Aviv to
Casesarea, Tiberias & the Sea of Galilee - from Qumran and the
Dead Sea up to Jerusalem. They even marched in the Jerusalem
Day Parade while they were there to show their support for the
nation of Israel.
In ISRAEL
(Left) Curtis in the
amphitheatre in Caesarea, Israel
(Right) Curtis & Carolyn on the Mt. of Olives looking toward the
Old City area of Jerusalem
Dancing on the Old City
walls of Jerusalem at David's Citadel
(Left to Right) Doug & Lynda Williams, Curtis, Greg
Curtis & Carolyn took their second trip to
Israel
in October 2011.
Stopping to pose for a
photo while visiting Helen, Georgia
(Left to Right) Brad & Beth Loftin Seese, Carolyn & Curtis
Loftin
(Right) Curtis with
granddaughter Savanna Seese
Curtis & Carolyn with
their children and grandchildren, 2006
Another great benefit of
teaching is retiring at the age of 52!
January 2008
Carolyn & Curtis, July 2008
Curtis & Carolyn with their Children and
Grandchildren - December 25, 2008
(Back Row) Philip, Leslie, Beth, Brad
(Front Row) Alexandria, Carolyn, Curtis, Savanna
Upon their deaths, Curtis & Carolyn will be buried at
Mathis
Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba County, next to Curtis'
parents, Sam and Willie Goble Loftin.
These pages were created to honor special people in my life -
who are not related by blood. They helped mold me,
influence me, and make me into the person I am today (at least the
good parts of me). Several have no children, thus their
lineage ends - and I didn't want their memory to be lost.
Tony was one of my college friends when I attended Appalachian
State University in Boone. Tony was also at least
partially responsible for Carolyn & I getting together while we
were at ASU. Tony died from cancer at the age of 41 -
without children.
Mrs. Stewart was a neighbor who kept me when I was a child.
She taught me my nursery-rhymes and "petted" me way too much as
a child - but I always loved her for it. It was in her
yard where I had my first treehouse and she taught me how to
make hats out of leaves and twigs. She had no children
and I only have a few photos of her but I do have some
wonderful memories. She also made our wedding cake.
Betty was Carolyn and my college "Mama" for the last two years
we were at Appalachian. Her son Dan became one of my best
friends and her husband, John Wessell, gave Carolyn away
at our wedding. The time we spent with Betty and her
family was frequently spent in prayer, singing around the piano
while Dan played the guitar - as well as with lots of fellowship
and lots and lots of laughter.
If you have additional photos of Curtis, please contact me.