Curt Buxton Beck

SERVICES: Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, December 8, 2011, at First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Kenny Rigoulot, pastor, and Nancy Ruff, commissioned lay pastor, officiating. Private burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.BIOGRAPHY: Our Lord needed an engineer in Heaven and called Curt to be with him on Saturday, December 3, 2011. For his family and friends he was so much more than a great engineer. He will be missed.Curt was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 6, 1924 as the oldest son of Curt Walter Beck and Anna Nash Buxton Beck. His younger brother Cameron was born 22 months later. Both boys grew up in Dallas. They attended Texas Country Day School, which later became St Mark's School of Texas.Curt graduated as Valedictorian and was admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). However he chose to go one year to the prep school Phillips Academy in Exeter, NH. Then he attended MIT on a scholarship. He was too tall for military service, so he was class F. Due to the war, the classes at MIT went nonstop through the years. Curt graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1945.He then started his 40 year career at Cabot Carbon Co. (now Cabot Corporation) working in their Research and Development Division in Pampa TX. In 1950 he returned to MIT for a Master's degree which he received in 1952. While working on his degree, he attended the MIT School of Engineering Practice in Oak Ridge, TN and also spent time working for Cabot in Japan and Chester England on an exchange program.In 1957 he married Wilhelmina Paula von Wolzogen Kuhr ("Wil") from the Netherlands, whom he had known since they met as children in 1934. Curt's aunt Viola was married to Wil's Uncle Paul, the Dallas Symphony Conductor at that time. They made their home in Pampa and started their family. Their three children, Curt Emile, Anna Catherine and Paul Buxton were born over the next five years.Although he had numerous chances to transfer to other cities, Curt never wanted to leave Pampa. He elected to stay and work for Cabot in various capacities (he ultimately became the Corporate Environmental Control Officer) until his retirement in 1984. He then opened his own engineering consulting practice where he applied his environmental and regulatory expertise to the benefit of his many clients. He never officially retired as he loved working and sharing his knowledge through his engineering practice and monthly newsletters until his recent passing.Curt was a Registered Professional Engineer in several states. He was a member and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Air and Waste Management Association and was a Diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He also served as the Texas Panhandle area advisor to his beloved MIT and screened hundreds of area high school senior applicants.But most will remember Curt for his never-ending civic and community contributions. He served on the Vestry of St Matthew's Episcopal Church and later several times as a ruling Elder of the First Presbyterian Church. He also has served on the board of numerous civic organizations. To mention a few: the Pampa School Board where he served as President, Jaycees, Toastmasters, the Community Concert Association, Girl and Boy Scouts (he was a Cub Master and Webelo Den Leader for many years), Outdoor Arts, Southside Senior Citizens, Salvation Army and the United Way of which he was drive chairman in 1992, Tralee Crisis Center, and many more. Curt was selected as Citizen of the Year in 1998 by the Pampa Chamber of Commerce. He was a Rotarian and served as the local chapter president, the Rotary regional president and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also an integral figure in the recent money raising effort to build the chapel at the Jordan Unit outside Pampa. Curt also enjoyed the many friendships dealt from his weekly Friday night poker games over the past 60+ years.Curt is survived by Wil, his wife of 54 years, his three children: Curt and his wife Rhenalea and their three children, Kelsi (23), Austen (21), and Kaylen (20); Anna and her husband Kelly and her children Erin (20) and Sara (18) and stepchildren Carly (21) and Taylor (15); and Paul and his wife Carol and their children Gregory (17), Steven (15), Catie (10) and Jessie (8).Over the past few years, both Curt and Wil have received very special and loving care from a number of caregivers. His family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Rolanda Bowman, LaVern Fulton, Donna Jones, Candace Sinyard, Kandy Soliz, Brandi Soliz, and his primary caregivers and friends, Barry Bowman, Roger Rainey, Jim Sinyard, and especially Tommy Henson and his office assistant, Caroline Gerik.The entire Beck family wishes to thank all for their loving condolences and best wishes during this difficult period. For those who would like to donate in honor of Curt, we believe Curt would have preferred donations to any charity that reflects his spirit. We also ask that you keep Wil, his loving wife, in your hearts and prayers.