Curtis H. McSherry died April 26, 2023, at the age of 96 in Toano, Virginia. Curtis was born August 11, 1926, second son of Dr. H. L. McSherry and Joyce Mary Nunn McSherry at Frostburg, Maryland. Curtis always said he was born a few miles south of the Mason Dixon line – thus he was born a Southerner.
Curtis grew up in Norge, Virginia, attending Toano High School, graduating at age 16 in June 1943. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 17 and served during WWII from November 1943 through October 19, 1946, where he trained as a tail gunner on B-29 bombers. After the war he was sent to Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado. While at Lowry Field he worked in the motor pool as a clerk typist scheduling vehicles for maintenance. He hardly worked at this however, as he played baseball for the Lowry Field team as 3rd baseman and pitcher. The team flew around the midwest and west playing other military and non-military teams. He had an excellent record as a pitcher, the best and most wins on the team. He obtained the rank of Buck Sargeant while in the Service.
Because the Army did not call Curtis up until he was 18, he was able to complete his first year at the College of William and Mary. Returning to William and Mary after the war on the GI bill, he obtained a B.A. in business in 1947. Curtis desired to work at the FBI and had been told he could be employed with an undergraduate degree. After obtaining this, the FBI said they were only employing lawyers and CPAs, whereupon Curtis went to law school at William and Mary and passed the Virginia State Bar in February 1951. He graduated from William and Mary Law School in June 1951. After achieving this goal, the FBI said they were no were longer hiring lawyers because they did not stay with the FBI but would leave to get jobs with better pay. It is certainly these times that the Lord opens and closes doors for those of his own.
Curtis was dating the most beautiful and wonderful girl in the world, Jackie Moody, who was a graduate of Longwood College and in her first year teaching in Farmville, Virginia. The Lord opened a door for Curtis to work for the CIA in January 1952, and he and Jackie Moody were married August 25, 1952. Curt and Jackie started their life together in Boston, Massachusetts for five years before returning to CIA Headquarters in Virginia. Their first son John was born in Boston July 11, 1953. Curtis worked at the CIA headquarters and other locations during this time. He was then sent to work on the U2 program for 12 years in California. Due to the classified nature of his work, it shall not be described except to say it was a very successful program obtaining critical information for the security of the United States. Returning to Washington, he worked in the field of personnel security, processing persons for employment within the Agency and other related matters. Subsequently, he was assigned as special agent in charge of a field office, serving a little more than a year in this position. He was then assigned overseas to Taiwan, the only assignment he could take his family. This was during the Vietnam War. Curt and Jackie had five children at this time, and this classified assignment was quite successful in all respects. After this assignment, he would be sent for several months at a time around the world, mostly in the Far East. He became a Deputy and Chief of personnel security at headquarters, obtaining promotions all along the way. He officially retired from the CIA in 1983, however he continued to work for the agency several more years as a contract employee.
Curtis and Jackie lived in Fairfax in a beautiful home they built in 1965. After retirement, Curt and Jackie moved to Toano and began RVing adventures around the United States visiting many wonderful sites and their many friends and family. Curt and Jackie were married 70 wonderful years, finally settling into Jackie’s childhood home in Toano, Virginia. They were both faithful members of Williamsburg Christians Church and Lifepointe Christian Church.
Curt is survived by his children, John W. McSherry (Cindy), Michael C. McSherry (Liz), Nancy M. Pruitt (Tom), Ann M. Chambers (Paul), and Thomas R. McSherry (Patty); grandchildren, Patrick M. McSherry (Nadine), Erin M. McSherry (Montree), Jacqueline P. Estep (Eric), Kevin T. McSherry, Amanda P. Thomas (David), J.T. Pruitt (Ginger), Louis E. McSherry (April), Nathan R. Chambers (Emily), Luke A. McSherry, Sarah A. Reedy (Jarid), Brynne M. Nichols (Conner), Rosser T. McSherry (Rachel), Benjamin C. Chambers, Regan L. Downer (Jack), Joyce F. McSherry, Curtis W. McSherry; Great-grandchildren, Colton, Samuel, Scott, Caralena, Joey, Abigail, Zachary, Miles, John, Barrett, Lyra, Ezekiel, Iris, Emery, Logan, Josephine and Emma.
Flowers are always appreciated and can be sent to Vincent Funeral Home at 9923 Pocahontas Trail, Providence Forge. Or if you prefer, donations in memory of Curt McSherry may be made to LifePointe Christian Church.
