Curtis Cleveland Reding

DR.Curtis Cleveland Reding passed away Tuesday, July 1st, 2014. He was born on March 1st, 1917 in Courtland, Alabama to Nola and Grover Cleveland Reding. He overcame many obstacles in his young life, including polio, and his Father passing away. When he was sixteen years old, he was picked up, while walking to school in the snow, by Ms. Annie Wheeler, the daughter of General Joe Wheeler of the Confederacy. She was his mentor from that time, for the rest of her life. He graduated from the University of Alabama. While there, he worked his way performing several jobs. He attended Atlanta Dental School that became Emory Dental School. While working for Mr. McClesky's pharmacy, he was introduced to his wife Mary Allen, who he called "Junior." When Junior passed away in 1998, they had been married fifty three years. Curtis joined the Navy and served as a Dentist in Osaka, Japan in World War II. He retired as a Captain after thirty years of service in the Navy Reserve. When he returned to Decatur, after the war, in 1947, he joined and became an active member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur. He taught eleven old boys Sunday School, and was a Deacon and Usher for many years. He started his own Dental Practice in 1947, and built his office in 1954 in Decatur, Georgia, where he worked for twenty eight years. During this time he held many offices in the Fifth District, and Northern District Dental Societies. He also served as President and Chairman of the prestigious Hinman Dental Meeting. As General Chairman, he moved the meeting from the Atlanta Auditorium to the then new downtown Marriott Hotel.
Upon retiring in1975, Curtis did not slow down. He grew beautiful Chrysanthemums for show, where he won many blue ribbons and judged shows throughout the South East.
There were three projects Curtis was most proud. He helped to develop The Howard School, and was a Trustee for fifty years. He helped to establish the Stone Mountain Rail Road and on the Board of Directors for twenty years. Finally he also helped establish the Yellow River Game Ranch when it first opened in Stone Mountain Park. Hunting fishing and growing chrysanthemums, were his favorite hobbies, as well as always being ready to travel. Curtis and Junior traveled the world, visiting every continent but Antartica. On one of his last trips, at 85 years old, he visited Tibet, the "Top of the World." Curtis is proceeded in death by Mary, his wife, and brothers Carl, Claudy and Clifford. He is survived by his three children, Cleve, "Jane," Carrie, "Richard," and Mary Sue; two grand children, Regan, "Tim," and Christopher, and one great grand child Kellen; his brother Bill Reding, sister in law Anita Reding, and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends for visitation at AS Turner and Sons, July 2nd, from 6-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held on July 3rd at the First Baptist Church of Decatur, officiated by Pastor Julie Pennington Russel, and Joe Gatlin at 2:00PM. Internment with Military Honors will be rendered at Decatur Cemetery following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Howard School, 1192 Foster St. NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30318 or the Allen Memorial Library, First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga.



Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033