Curtis Todd Carothers
May 12, 1967 ~ July 11, 2026
Born in:
Columbus, Indiana
Resided in:
Reddington, Indiana
Curtis Todd Carothers, 59, of Reddington, Indiana, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. In the final months of his battle with cancer, he was lovingly cared for by his family and especially his devoted daughter, Abigayle Sweeney.
Born May 12, 1967, in Columbus, IN, Curtis was the son of William E. and Linda L. Carothers. Curtis was a 1985 graduate of Columbus East High School. He was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Curtis had a passion for tractors which began during his childhood as he farmed alongside his father. He began working for Bryant Implement upon graduation as a John Deere mechanic. He dedicated much of his life to serving others through his work. He spent more than 30 years as a bus driver for Seymour Community Schools, where he became a familiar and dependable presence to generations of students and families.
In addition to his work with the school system, Curtis was a self-employed mechanic and became Owner/Operator at Curtis Carothers Service and Repair as an agricultural mechanic for more than 30 years. His knowledge, strong work ethic, and willingness to help others earned the trust and appreciation of many throughout the farming community of which he will be sorely missed.
Curtis’ proudest accomplishment was his daughter Abigayle (Carothers) Sweeney. He cherished tractor rides in the fields with her as much as she did with him. Abigayle was his purpose and rock through his battle with cancer.
He is survived by his daughter Abigayle (Levi) Sweeney of Brownstown, parents, William E. and Linda L. Carothers of Columbus, sister Lucinda “Cindy” Weisner of Columbus, and brother Ross (Shelli) Carothers of Columbus. He had several nieces, nephews, and cousins who will cherish his memory. He was married for 30 years. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William F. (Ruth) Carothers, Mildred Carothers, and Logan and Margaret Ping.
Curtis wished to extend a special thank you to all the farmers who supported him throughout his meaningful career and the friendships he made over the years. Those relationships meant a great deal to him. Curtis will be remembered for his dedication, hard work, and the impact he made on the community he served for so many years.
Family and friends may gather for visitation on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Jewell-Rittman Funeral Service & Crematory and on Friday, July 17, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at 719 5th St. Columbus, IN. Curtis will be laid to rest at the Sandcreek Friends Cemetery located on County Road 650 South.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Carothers family and a video tribute viewed at jewllrittman.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County” to establish a memorial fund in Curt’s memory to support agricultural education.
Services
Visitation:
Thursday, July 16, 2026
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Jewell ~ Rittman Funeral Service & Crematory
3855 25th St
Columbus, IN 47203
(812) 372-9923
Visitation:
Friday, July 17, 2026
9:00 am - 10:00 am
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Abigayle, We are so sorry. He is in heaven now and watching over you. He’s not suffering anymore. You are his angel. We love you and your beautiful sweet family. ❤️ Steve & Carrie Carothers