Robert Elmer Curphey

Civilian POW from Wake Island

Shanghai War Prisoners Camp - Kiawgwan Shanghai Robert E. "Bob" Curphey, 92, of Grants Pass died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

 A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Rogue River Assembly of God, with Paul West, pastor, officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Curphey was born Jan. 22, 1913, in Kenosha, Wis. In 1920, his family moved to Oregon and they lived in Riddle for a few years. In the early 1920s, he moved to Grants Pass, where he has lived since. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and was a prisoner of war for approximately 44 months when the Japanese took over Wake Island. He received four medals.
He was a member of the POW Survivors of Wake, Guam and Cavite. He enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and going for drives.
Survivors include two daughters, Janey Powers of West Virginia and Amelia Peyton of Grants Pass; a stepdaughter, Judith Steele of Gresham; a brother, Hugh A. Curphey of Central Point; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
His first wife, Lenora Scherffius Curphey, died in 1967, and his second wife, June Murray Curphey, died in 1987.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 28 2017, 23:20:05 UTC