Obituary: James A Kurtz

James A Kurtz of Auburn, Wash., formerly of Carson City, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2010. Jim was born in Sheridan, Wyo., Aug. 28, 1923, son of the late Noah V. Kurtz and Martha E. Packard. He was preceded in death by his four brothers, Rodger, Sam, Joe, and Allen, and his sister, Gene. Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Regina; sons, James Jr. (Carolyn) of Kansas City, Mo., Richard (Kathy) of Wolf Point, Mont., and Michael of Auburn, Wash.; daughter Cynthia Goodrich (Bruce) of Auburn; sister Mary Jane Culver of Laguna Woods, Calif.; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and Judy Ternau Haviland, who was like another daughter to him.

Jim met his wife, Regina Jablonowski, in Washington, D.C., while working as a Senate page and attending George Washington University and she was working in the Pentagon. They were married on Nov. 11, 1943.

Jim served in World War II as a B29 co-pilot, often flying low-altitude missions to drop supplies to POW camps in northern Japan. After the war, Jim obtained a bachelor of science in engineering from the University of Wyoming. He entered a career in government service, first with the Bureau of Reclamation in Colorado and Nevada, and then with the Federal Aviation Administration in Nevada, Utah, and Washington state, where he retired at the end of 1980. In addition to being a supportive father and devoted husband, Jim was a church leader, Scout master, youth baseball coach, and baseball and football referee.

After his retirement Jim and Gina enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends all over the country (often staying in their tent trailer). He was also active with the local Democratic Party and served as clerk of session for the First Presbyterian Church of Renton. He was also a proud supporter of the Seattle Museum of Flight.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10 at the First Presbyterian Church of Renton, 2640 Benson Rd., Renton, WA 98055. Interment will be in the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash., in late August. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Renton, the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98018, or to your favorite charity.