Bio, 2014: Linda Kroamer Curtis
Immediately after graduation from SHS, I started at OSU [summer semester]. Ralph Curtis and I were married in May, 1968. I graduated from OSU with a degree in sociology in May, 1969, 3 days before my 1st child was born. We moved to Kansas for Ralph’s teaching job and were there a year and returned for graduate school for Ralph to OSU.
We had 3 more children for a total of 2 girls and 2 boys and we lost a child through miscarriage. After almost 10 years of marriage, we were divorced in 1978. I attended graduate school and got a Masters in Outdoor Recreation. Ralph and I remarried in 1982 and I moved to White Sands Missile Range where he was stationed in the Army. I spent 3 years working for the Department of the Army in their post recreation centers and thoroughly enjoyed it, in both New Mexico and California.
In 1985, we separated and I returned to OSU to pursue a doctorate in sociology. Because of an unfortunate outcome on one of my comps, I was given a Masters instead. While completing the final requirements of the degree, I taught as an assistant professor at McMurry College in Abilene, Texas 1987-1990, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Because I was not granted the doctorate, I was unable to continue as an assistant professor and returned to OSU to complete the remaining requirements for an EdD in higher education through the leisure science department which I did in 1991.
I worked for Elderhostel as an event coordinator, another fun experience and several food service jobs throughout most of my adult life.
In 1995 I moved to Tulsa and shared an apartment with a dear friend and went to work as a shift manager at Braum’s. In 1996 I went to work for a law firm in downtown Tulsa and have been there ever since. As some of you might remember, I am an only child and my friend became the sister that I had never had. In 2004 we bought a house together and still live there in the Brookside area of Tulsa.
My 4 children have given me 8 grandchildren so far. Trish, our oldest, has an 8 year old daughter, who is autistic. Randy has 3 boys, identical twins that are 3 and another who was born last September. Wendy has 2 girls, my oldest grandchild who is 10 and my youngest that was born in December.
Robert has 2 boys, 6 and 3. Trish lives in Jenks, Randy and Wendy live on opposite ends of California and Robert lives in Australia so thanks to Facebook I stay connected with them pretty well.
My mother passed away in 2005 and soon after I developed an interest in genealogy realizing if I didn’t tell my kids and grandkids their stories that there would be no one who could. I also picked up the scrapbooking bug and am working on books for each of the kids and grandkids—a daunting task!
In June 2012, I decided to take charge of my health and well-being and started competing in 5k races, first as a walker and now as a run/walk participant. That year I completed 5 races, in 2013, I did 15 5k races, a quarter marathon [6.55 miles] and a couple of “fun walks”. So far this year, I have done a 10k and 3 5k races and have plans for several more 5k’s, a couple of 10k’s, the Tulsa Run 15k and a half marathon [not until November]. I compete against myself since I surely can’t compete against the young folks but I have beaten some of them.
I am an active member of Olivet Baptist Church and am a co-leader of our Women’s Ministry. I co-taught a senior ladies class for 3 years and occasionally teach our Sunday school class. I have been active in our adult choir for 7 years and have participated in our Passion Week performance at Easter for 6 years.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in June!
©2009 Stillwater High School Class of 1964