Ivol Ira Curtis (June 18, 1908 – March 1, 1994) was a prelate of the Episcopal Church who served as Bishop of Olympia from 1964 to 1976.

The Right Reverend

Ivol Curtis
Bishop of Olympia
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseDiocese of Olympia
ElectedFebruary 29, 1964
In office1964-1976
PredecessorWilliam F. Lewis
SuccessorRobert H. Cochrane
Orders
OrdinationFebruary 1936
by Henry Knox Sherrill
ConsecrationApril 29, 1960
by Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Personal details
Born(1908-06-18)June 18, 1908
DiedMarch 1, 1994(1994-03-01) (aged 85)
Seattle, Washington, United States
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsIra Carlos Curtis & Nina Chisholm
Spouse
Lillian Alice Kinney
(m. 1936)
Children2
Previous post(s)Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles (1960-1964)

Early life and education edit

Curtis was born on June 18, 1908, in Watkins, Minnesota, the son of Ira Carlos Curtis and Nina Chisholm. He studied at Carleton College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1932.[1] He then entered Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1935. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Occidental College in 1960.

Ordained Ministry edit

Curtis was ordained deacon in June 1935 by Bishop Frank McElwain of Minnesota, and priest in February 1936 by Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill of Massachusetts.[2] He married Lillian Alice Kinney on April 16, 1936, and had two sons. His first appointment was as curate at Emanuel Church in Boston from 1935 to 1937;, after which he became rector of St Peter's Church in Cazenovia, New York, where he remained until 1942. He then became rector of St John's Church in Jamaica Plain, Boston, while in 1947 he became rector of All Saints Church in Pontiac, Michigan. Between 1953 and 1960 he was rector of St James' Church in Los Angeles.[3]

Episcopacy edit

Curtis was elected Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles in 1960 and was consecrated on April 29, 1960, in St Paul's Cathedral, Los Angeles by Presiding Bishop Arthur C. Lichtenberger.[4] On February 29, 1964, he was elected as Coadjutor Bishop of Olympia and succeeded as diocesan on September 6, 1964.[5] He retired in 1976 and later served as Assistant Bishop in Los Angeles. He died following a stroke on March 1, 1994, in Seattle.[6] [7][8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "CURTIS, Ivol Ira". The Clerical Directory of the Protestant Episcopal Church: 94. 1956.
  2. ^ "CURTIS, Ivol Ira". Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Episcopal Church: 84. 1953.
  3. ^ "CURTIS, Ivol Ira". Who's Who in Religion: 145. 1977. ISBN 978-0-8379-1602-6.
  4. ^ "Consecration Scheduled". The Living Church. 140: 11. April 10, 1960.
  5. ^ "Ivol Ira Curtis". The Episcopalian. 130: 37. 1965.
  6. ^ "People", Episcopal News Service, March 10, 1994. Retrieved on June 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Retired Olympia Bishop Dies". The Living Church. 208: 6. March 27, 1994.
  8. ^ "Ivol Curtis; Retired Episcopal Bishop Held No. 2 Post in L.A. in Late '50s, '60s". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 6, 1994. Retrieved 2015-06-17.