Raymond Lapp Kurtz Jr

Raymond Lapp Kurtz, Jr. age 99, of Ft. Clark Springs in Brackettville, Texas passed away in Dallas on May 10, 2016 after a short illness just 10 days prior to his 100th birthday. He was born in Flint, Michigan on May 20, 1916 to Raymond Lapp Kurtz and Sarah Viola Owen. He graduated from South Bend High School in South Bend, Indiana. Ray was an U.S. Army Air Force veteran during World War II, stationed with the 422nd Service Squadron at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. He met his wife, Cubie Riddle of Maynard, Ohio, and they were married on October 16, 1945. On August 8, 1953, while in Aransas Pass, Texas, they adopted two Irish brothers, Michael Anthony Scruggs (James Owen Kurtz) and Patrick James Scruggs (Larry Wayne Kurtz). Every year they celebrated that day like a birthday. They moved to Beeville, Texas in l958 where the boys attended grade school through high school. In l972, Ray retired as the Director of Public Works for Chase Field Naval Air Station. After brief stops in San Antonio and Dallas, they moved to a retirement community called Ft. Clark Springs, in Brackettville. Ray and Cubie were known by all. Everyone had golf carts to get around the close knit community. Some were permanent residents and others came down during the winter months from up north. They also spent many summers in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. After 35 years at Ft. Clark, they moved to the Dallas area in 2009 to be closer to family and accessible health care. Ray was a life member of the Masonic Lodges in Beeville and Brackettville and the Order of the Eastern Star with his wife. He was past Master of the Las Moras Masonic Lodge #444 AF&AM in Brackettville. They were also members of the United Methodist Church. Ray is survived by his wife of 70 years, Cubie Riddle Kurtz, of Dallas; son and daughter in law Jim and Lindy Kurtz of Fairview; son Larry Kurtz of Dallas; grandchildren Erin Adriane Kurtz and Justin Glen Kurtz; and great grandchildren Olivia Kay Wrobel and Brayden Owen Kurtz. Ray is also survived by his sister, Harriett Norris, age 102 of Daytona Beach, Florida; his brother, Walter Owen Kurtz, age 94 of Evansville, Indiana and numerous nieces and nephews from coast to coast.. His sister, Margaret Tansey, age 97, just died a month ago in Washington State.
A private inurnment will take place May 20th, on what would have been Ray's 100th birthday, at the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery columbarium with U.S. Army honors. If it is your wish, memorials in Ray's name may be made to Operation Kindness at 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton, Texas 75006, phone 972-418-7297, or www.operationkindness.org. Special thanks to Amity Hospice of Dallas and Allen Family Funeral Options for their care and support.