Raymond John Curran Sr., former president and owner of Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home in Cambridge, died of a heart attack Tuesday at the funeral home, which was also his residence. He was 79.
Mr. Curran was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and after the death of his father, was raised by relatives in New Jersey and Washington, where he graduated from high school.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and was a cartographer. He remained in the Air Force Reserve after the war and was discharged in 1949 with the rank of sergeant.
He studied mortuary science on the GI Bill and was a 1950 graduate of Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.
Mr. Curran began his career working at William J. Tickner & Sons Funeral Home, Henry W. Jenkins & Sons, and William Cook-Brooks Funeral Home in Baltimore. In 1974, he purchased LeCompte Funeral Home in Cambridge, now Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home.
At his death he was secretary and treasurer of the funeral home that is owned and operated by a daughter, Colleen Curran-Bromwell.
"He had a wonderful and respected reputation within the funeral industry and state for his talent and skill in embalming and restorative art," said Mrs. Curran-Bromwell.
Mr. Curran was also secretary and treasurer of Greenlawn Cemetery in Cambridge, and was a co-founder of Cambridge Crematory, now the Mid-Shore Cremation Center, also in Cambridge.
Mr. Curran was a member of several professional and civic organizations.
He enjoyed reading about Civil War, Cuban and Irish history. He also liked boating and dancing.
In 1942, he married M. Virginia Cross, who died in 1988.
He was a communicant of St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Roman Catholic Church, Hambrooks Boulevard and Glasgow Street, Cambridge, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
In addition to his daughter, he is survived by three sons, Raymond J. Curran Jr. of Towson, Dr. Stephen F. Curran of Cockeysville and Patrick J. Curran of Abingdon; another daughter, Ginger C. Gillis of Berlin, Worcester County; and 10 grandchildren.