George William Kurtz, Jr.

George William Kurtz, Jr. was born on April 8, 1938, in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late George William Kurtz, Sr. and Mildred (Stephens) Carpenter.  He accepted Christ at an early age.  He was baptized at Northside New Era Baptist Church.  He attended Indianapolis Public School #87 and Shortridge High School.  He loved to go to the Crispus Attucks basketball games where he was the Water Boy.  After high school, he went to the U.S. Army at 18 years old in 1956.  In 1963, he met the love of his life, Almarie Browder, while attending Northside New Era Baptist Church, and 2 children were born to this union.

 

George was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle but most importantly, he was devoted to ministry for the Lord.  He enjoyed Sunday School, loved singing in the choir, and started a Male Chorus group.  He later joined Mt. Helm Missionary Baptist Church where he was a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent, and in the Male Chorus.  His favorite song was “Oh Let Me Ride.”

 

George met James Hatter and joined Union District Laymen’s where he was President for 8 years.  George worked as a Machinist for Peerless Pump for over 40 years before his retirement. In retirement, he lived a leisurely life watching MeTV and drawing.  

 

George is preceded in death by his parents, George William Kurtz, Sr., and Mildred (Stephens) Carpenter. His memory is cherished by his wife of 58 years, Almarie Browder Kurtz, his two children, son George William Kurtz, III and daughter Tracey Lynn Kurtz, brother Herman Kurtz (Ann), niece Kimberly Kurtz, nephews David Kurtz (Becky) and Brett Kurtz, and his favorite uncle Roscoe Carpenter and a host of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

 

 

You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

 

You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn you back, or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.