Philip Richmond Curd Obituary

Philip Richmond Curd MD, 83, of Sand Gap, KY passed away at the University of Kentucky Hospital after a life committed to providing medical services for those underserved in Kentucky’s Appalachian counties. He was born May 8, 1941 and departed this life on July 20, 2024.

After graduating Eastern High School in Jefferson County in 1959, and graduated from the University of Louisville in 1963. Philip joined the Peace Corp and traveled to Guinea West Africa where he spent two year. Upon his return from Africa he continued his education at the University of Kentucky. He received his Doctorate in Medicine and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Kentucky. In 1969, he completed a Residency at Evanston Hospital in Chicago. Philip married Terrie Jean Weddle in 1970 and she survives him.

He and his wife Terrie, moved to Hawaii where he worked as a physician at the Kauai Medical Group. Before leaving for the Peace Corp, Philip had researched the Kentucky counties least served with health care. He planned to establish a nonprofit community medical clinic. He and Terrie moved to Jackson County in 1973, rented a small white house in McKee which became the White House Clinic where he set up practice. Today, the White House Clinic serves 1in 4 people in Jackson, Garrard, Madison, Estill, and Rockcastle Counties. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2023. He served as a primary care physician there until 1996. In 1998 he completed a residency in Preventative Medicine at the University of Kentucky and served as an Assistant Professor until 2010. He also worked with the University of Kentucky and the Veteran’s Hospital.

Over the years, he served on the Jackson County Board of Health, Berea Hospital Board of Directors, Jackson County Development Association, Jackson County Community Foundation, and was a charter member of the Dark Honey Producers Association.

He received the Sargent Shriver Humanitarian Award, the Jack Gabbard Citizenship Award, and an honorific Citation from the Kentucky House of Representatives. He was designated a “Health Hero’ by the Fayette County Medical Society. Philip never wavered from his love of community and finding ways to impact and improve the quality of lives of those he served. For this, he considered himself blessed by the love he was given and the love he gave.

He is preceded in death by his father John Price Curd, Jr. his mother Mildred Desa Goeth Curd. He is survived by his sisters Joan Hartmann, Alice Mark, a niece Robyn Weil, a nephew, John Mark, and cousins Ron Teaford, Steve Teaford and Midge Goeth.

In a final act of giving, Philip donated his body to the University of Kentucky. It may be that, as a result of this donation, others will benefit. He would have wanted that to be so.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers consider donating to the Curd Family Fund which is administered by the Jackson County Community Foundation. One can donate funds electronically by visiting their secure website: appalachianky.org and following the instructions or by visiting their Facebook page “Jackson County Community Foundation”. One can also donate by sending a check directly to the Jackson County Community Foundation at P.O. Box 1546 McKee, KY 40447. Please designate on the check that the donation is meant for the “Curd Family Fund”.