Louise Van Lear Curfman, 99, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2013, in The Woodlands Nursing Home at Clifton Forge, Virginia.
Mrs. Curfman was born May 15, 1913, in Covington, a daughter of the late Harry P. and Katharine Wood Van Lear.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Frank W. Van Lear, H.P. Van Lear, Jr., and Hunter Y. Van Lear and their wives.
She was raised in Lynchburg and graduated from the Farmville Female Seminary (now Longwood University) in 1934. During World War II, she worked at the Lynchburg Foundry making parts for the U. S. Military effort.
In 1934, she came to Covington to teach at Covington High School, where she met and married W. R. Curfman. For many years she taught science, math and algebra at the school until her retirement in 1975.
She was a longtime active member of Covington Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and on the Flower Committee.
She was active in the community with the Covington Womans' Club, the Mountain River Garden Club and as a Board Member of the Charles P. Jones Memorial Library.
In 1989, she moved to Canterbury Court Retirement Community in Atlanta where she lived until 1998. Since then she had lived in Richmond and Staunton, before moving to The Woodlands in 2007, where she was loved and cared for by the staff in a special way.
She had a good and full life, having traveled throughout the United States, to Mexico, Europe and the Far East. She enjoyed two river raft trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon shooting rapids, sleeping on the ground, seeing the sights and thoroughly enjoying the adventure. Her hobbies included gardening, raising orchids, ceramics and flower arranging.
Surviving are her Daughter, Katharine "Kappy" Foster and her Husband, John, Jr., of Staunton; her Son, W.R. "Buzz" Curfman, Jr.; four grandchildren, Katharine Foster of Richmond; W.R. "Russ" Curfman, III, of Hamilton; Elizabeth Money and her husband, Bruce, of Frisco, Texas, and John F. Foster, III, and his wife, Rebekah, of Lewisburg, WV; five great grandchildren, Gene R. Bryson, II, Georgia Anne Foster, John F. Foster, IV, Ashley Lynn Money, and Troy Michael Money; one nephew, Steve Van Lear and three nieces, Kate Van Lear, Elizabeth Van Lear and Betty Van Lear Willis.
In accordance with her wishes, her body has been cremated.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Virgil Woody officiating assisted by the Rev. Glen Moran.
The family will receive their friends for one hour prior to the service at Arritt Funeral Home.
Interment will be made in Alleghany Memorial Park.
The family suggest that donations in Mrs. Curfman's name be made to the Flower Fund Committee; Covington Baptist Church; 280 W. Riverside Ave.; Covington, VA 24426.
