On January 15, 2019, Earl Curry Alford, loving husband, father of four children and retired surgeon, passed away at the age of 84. Dr. Alford was born on Jan. 8, 1935, to Duncan Curry Alford and Mildred Martin Alford in Spartanburg, SC. He received his bachelor's degree from Presbyterian College and his medical degree from the Medical College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He married Martha Catherine Van Ness Alford on June 13, 1959. They raised two daughters, Celia Alford Wilson and Tochie Alford Blad, and two sons, Duncan Earl Alford and Earl Kent Alford. He practiced medicine as a board certified surgeon in his hometown Spartanburg, Harlan, KY, and Newberry, SC. He retired from medical practice in Newberry, SC. Dr. Alford received additional medical training at Emory University and thoracic-cardiovascular surgical training at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University and Oteen VA Hospital in Asheville, NC. He served as a U.S. Army Captain and surgeon in a MASH unit in Vietnam in the late 1960s. Dr. Alford enjoyed visiting his family and friends and was particularly fond of visits by his grandchildren, both in Newberry and at the family vacation home in the Great Smoky Mountains outside of Bryson City, NC. Dr. Alford is survived by his wife of 59 years, Martha, his daughter Celia and her husband Brian C. Wilson, his daughter Tochie and her husband Robert Blad, his son Duncan and his son Earl and his wife Nancy Wicker Alford. He is also survived by his sisters June Alford Steven and Mary Ann Fruit, both of Spartanburg, SC. Eight grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews survive Dr. Alford. Visitation with the family will be held at Whitaker Funeral Home, 1704 College St., Newberry SC, at 5-7 PM on Thursday, January 17, 2019. A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday, January 18, 2018, at 11 AM at the Alford Family Cemetery on Minturn Road near Reedy Creek Presbyterian Church, Highway 9 in Dillon County, SC. Memorials are suggested to the Newberry County Family YMCA, 8220 Jollystreet Rd., Newberry, SC. Memories and messages of condolence can be shared at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home of Newberry is assisting the family.