AUGUSTA — Curtis Edwin Willey, 43, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 15, while participating in one of his favorite past times.

He was born Sept. 1, 1967, in Richmond, Va., and raised by his parents Sandra and Robert Willey in Strasburg, Va. Curtis was the youngest of three children, an avid athlete and a light to all who knew him. He participated in football, basketball and track in high school and is still well remembered for his athletic achievements since graduating in 1985. He attended college for a while after high school and then enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1987. He served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm with the 1st Battalion 2nd Division Marines from Camp Lejeune and earned the Kuwait Liberation Medal, National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 stars and had always been proud of being chosen to participate in their water safety and survival instructors’ course.

After his service time, he attended Tidewater Community College with eventual transfer into James Madison University, where he graduated from in December 1994 with a bachelor of business administration and a major in computer information systems. He then went to work for Verizon in Silver Spring, Md., where he was employed from 1995 until 2004 making lasting friendships with fellow coworkers as a data base administrator.

In 1999, during rehabilitation from a severe knee injury he became involved in triathlons. This became a passionate past time for him and he competed in the Columbia Triathlon, Eagle man half iron man, great Floridian, Chesapeake Bay swim and his crowning achievement was the completion of Ironman California in 2001. The bonds and friendships he developed during this time with fellow triatheletes were everlasting; one strong friendship forged was with Joseph Liberto and resulted in his job at Immediate Mortgage from 2004 until 2007.

In 2007, Curtis moved to Maine with his wife and children where he attended KVCC and was eventually accepted into the physical therapy program at UNE where he was currently attending.

Curtis was a devoted father and had the fortunate opportunity to be a semi-stay at home dad while taking his undergrad classes at KVCC — time that his children will always cherish. They were the light of his life and his pride, love and nurturing for them will always be remembered. Curtis had many fond memories from childhood, in particular his time spent camping and fishing with his grandparents, ocean trips with his parents and sisters, family meals at “memaws,” and escapades with childhood friends whom remained loyal and devoted friends for life including, Doug Lam, Tim and Tony Paper, Ed Palmer, Darryl Brill and so many more than can be listed.

His favorite times as an adult were with his family on the outer banks of North Carolina, taking his kids four wheeling and moose spotting in Northern Maine and family time at his parent’s poolside.

Curtis is survived by his wife, friend and mother of his children, Brittany Willey, who cannot put into words the love and devotion she felt for him; three beautiful and heartbroken children, Emmeline Page Willey, 12, Delaney Grace Willey, 9, and little Bailey Jack Willey, 6,; loving and devoted parents, Sandra (Polk) Willey and Robert E. Willey Jr. of Strasburg, Va.; loving older sister, Crystal (Willey) Keller and her husband, Andrew Keller and their son, Brandon Keller, all from Strasburg, Va.; loving sister, Carla (Willey) Scott and her husband, Dannie Scott and their children, Ellie and Colt Scott of Strasburg, Va.

Curtis evoked lifelong friendships wherever he went, had an extremely loyal and devoted family who are all heart broken, and who are all so fortunate to have been able to be a part of this wonderful man’s life.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.