Curtis Melton Irby
November 28, 1946 ~ January 12, 2025
Curtis Melton Irby, age 78, a retired attorney of Wichita, Kansas passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at his home with his family at his side. He was born in Wichita on November 28, 1946 to Otto Curtis Irby and Harriett Jane (Melton) Irby. He was a loving husband of 53 years, an amazing father and an adored Papa.
Curtis was a lifelong Wichitan, where he was blessed with many life-long friends. A proud graduate of OK Elementary, Hadley Jr High and Wichita North High School, class of 1964. Curt attended his 60th North High class reunion this past fall and loved every minute. He was a graduate of Wichita State University, majoring in History and Political Science, where his life-long love of the Shockers began. Curtis was the President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Wichita Chapter, his senior year and had many stories to tell. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Washburn Law School 1971. He was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity.
As a young lawyer, he worked with Warren Moore in general practice. His favorite stories were of the criminal appointments he handled in those early years. Curtis went on to practice law for his entire professional career, where he found his calling in the field of Regulatory and Energy Law. Curtis worked at the Kansas Corporation Commission from 1979-1984, under Brian Moline and Pete Loux, leaving as Deputy General Counsel. Through the years he also helped many family and friends when they needed legal help, before retiring in 2021.
Curtis was a 33rd degree Mason. He belonged to the Albert Pike Blue Lodge, the York Rite, and the Wichita Scottish Rite. He was the legal advisor and a Trustee of the Wichita Consistory, for many years, following in his father’s footsteps in his devotion to the building and its people.
Curtis was also very proud of being an Eagle Scout. He liked to reminisce about the troop’s big road trip to CA, seeing the sites and camping all the way. His folks were chaperones on the trip, but they said goodnight at the end of the day and stayed in hotels, which he laughed about. Curt’s dad had also been an Eagle Scout.
Curtis loved to cheer on the Shockers, learn more about American history especially his favorite subject the American Civil War and watching his never ending political news. He also enjoyed traveling and visiting places connected to the civil war and his own family history. Growing up, his children did not know that not all families visit old cemeteries as part of their family’s road trips.
Curtis loved talking and listening to people, friends or strangers, hearing their stories and telling his own. Curtis was the type of person we should all want to be.
The most important thing in Curtis’ life was his family. He loved being part of his boys’ lives from their HS football practices to just being together in later years. He felt so blessed to have added Nicole, his daughter in law, and his precious Ginny and Ellie, who called him Papa, to his “Irby Clan”.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis “Sue” Susanne (Campbell); his sons, Matthew Curtis, of Wichita, Christopher Melton and daughter in law, Nicole Christine (Salamander); and his granddaughters, Virginia Sue and Eleanor Deborah, all of Lakewood CO.
A celebration of his life will be scheduled for later in the spring in Wichita. A family graveside service will held at the Shiloh Cemetery, the Irby/Friar family cemetery, outside Miller, MO also in the spring.
Memorial donations may be made to the Curtis M. Irby Memorial for the Vernon & Marjorie Williams Scholarship c/o WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Campus Box 2, Wichita, KS 67260-0002, https://foundation.wichita.edu/memorials-honors/. Or, if you wish, a charity of your choosing.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
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Curtis was a valued (and humorous) contributor to our study group in law school. I’m sure he will be deeply missed by your family. Grace and peace,
Bryon Schlosser