A 70-year-old Kent man, the pilot of a small plane that crashed Jan. 20 in a clear-cut field in Poulsbo, has died.
Kent Curtiss died on Feb. 7 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with his family by his side. He had been in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit since the crash; his wife and daughter said he succumbed to complications from his injuries.
Engine failure is believed to be the cause of the crash, his wife said. Curtiss was alone on the plane.
A memorial for Curtiss is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel, 27221 156th Ave. SE, Kent.
Curtiss will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery at a later date with a private family gathering.
According to his obituary on the funeral chapel website, Curtiss, a native of Michigan, played football at Central Michigan University and graduated with a degree in math and physics. He served in the U.S. Air Force, then worked as a computer systems analyst at Boeing until his retirement in 2000.
He began his lifelong passion for flying in 1963 when he received his single-engine private pilot license. In the 1970s, he earned his single-engine commercial and flight instructor ratings and in the 1980s earned his instrument rating.
His family and friends enjoyed many cross-country adventures with him; highlights included flights to Cayman Islands and Alaska.
Curtiss is survived by his wife, daughter, son, grandson, granddaughter, step-granddaughter, sister and brother.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to Angel Flight West (https://afids.angelflightwest.org/donation/donationEntry) or Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (https://secure.seattlecca.org).
Story contributed by Melinda Weer of the North Kitsap Herald
mweer@northkitsapherald.com
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