Genevieve "Genny" Curry

Genevieve Marie Curry, one of four children of Zelma Hazel (Chambers) White and John L White, was born at her parent's home near Glenwood, Iowa on February 28, 1930. Genny attended country schools through the fifth grade when her family moved to Glenwood. She graduated from the Glenwood Community High School in 1947. Following school, Genny worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses in town and as a telephone operator at the Glenwood switch board.
Genny and Howard Glenn Curry were married at the Glenwood Christian Church Parsonage on May 21, 1948. They made their home in Glenwood and were blessed with their children Barbara Ann and Kenneth Glenn. Genny enjoyed her role as homemaker and mother. In 1965, she and Howard were baptized at the First Baptist Church in Glenwood. They became active members and served as Baptist Youth Fellowship leaders. Genny sang with the choir, taught Sunday school, served as a Deaconess and treasurer, and served on the church's library, finance, and music committees.
In 1965, Genny became the head librarian at the Glenwood Public Library. She was a charter member of the Friends of the Library and the Genealogical Society where she did research for people. She developed the Books for Shut-ins program and used her own time to deliver reading materials to people who were homebound. In 1967, Genny was named the Director of the Glenwood Library. She attended library science courses at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. She was a member of the Southwest Iowa Regional Library Advisory Board and was a Lifetime Member of the Iowa Library Association where she served on the public relations committee. Genny was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi, the American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteered her time at the Mills County Historical Museum where she served as treasurer and recorded and cataloged museum items.
Genny and Howard had been married 45 years when Howard died on September 29, 1993. Genny continued to live at home and remained active in her church and community. In 1992, Genny retired after 27 years as the Director of the Library. In 2000, she was named Woman of the Year by Beta Sigma Phi and in 2001 the genealogy room at the Glenwood Public Library was named the Genevieve M. Curry Genealogy Room. Genny enjoyed spending time with her family, playing the piano by ear, reading, and collecting amber colored glassware. She loved watching birds and was a member of the Southwest Iowa Birders Association.
Genny died at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on April 29, 2007 at the age of 77 years, 2 months, and 1 day. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Howard Curry, brothers-in-law Eldon Brake, Gerald Flinn, Marvin Curry, Robert White, and ElRay Day; sisters-in-law Ruth Day and Naoma White; and nephew Lutz Curry.
Genny is survived by her daughter Barbara Crouch and husband Richard of Malvern, IA and son Kenneth Curry of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren Gary Crouch of Glenwood, Diana Crouch of Silver City, IA, Russell Crouch of Glenwood, and Joel Crouch of Malvern; sisters Ruth Brake of Cedar Rapids, IA and Carol Flinn of Fort Worth, TX; brother Robert White and wife Glenna of Prosser, WA; sisters-in-law Dolores Curry of St. Ignace, MI, and Sally White of Omaha, NE; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Interment in the Glenwood Cemetery.