James E. Kurz

James Eckhardt “Jim” Kurz, Sr., 86, passed away peacefully Thursday evening, April 22, 2021. Born October 8, 1934, in Louisville, KY Jim was the eldest child of the late Eckhardt and Margaret Kurz and is survived by his sister Marilyn Kurz Boner of Monrovia, IN. Jim was a high school graduate of Kentucky Military Institute and obtained his Bachelor’s degree at Centre College of Kentucky (1956) where he was also president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. He earned his Masters and Ph.D degrees in physical chemistry at Duke University (1961). Jim worked for 24 years for Monsanto at sites in St. Louis, Akron, OH, and Raleigh, NC, before accepting early retirement in 1985. He subsequently joined McDonnell-Douglas Corp. in 1986, employed as a specialist in the development of advanced composite materials for military and commercial aircraft, including the AV8B-Harrier and proposed NASA Spaceplane. From 1987-2000 he also served as an Affiliate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Washington University, St. Louis. During his working years he was also very involved in his church. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church serving Glendale Presbyterian Church, MO Bonhomme Presbyterian in Chesterfield, MO.

Jim met Ann Brookes in St. Louis, and they were married at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church November 29,1963. They have two sons, Dr. James E. Kurz, Jr., MD, and Dr. Jeffrey C. Kurz, PhD. Jim Jr. lives in Pittsboro, NC with his wife Lucy and their four children Tyler, John, CJ and Marissa. Jeff lives in Acton, MA, with his wife Wendy and daughter Caroline. In 2007, Jim and Ann retired to Cary, enjoying time with their grandchildren until Ann’s passing in 2017 after 53 years of marriage. Jim was a loving and devoted husband seeing Ann through her struggle with dementia late in life. A lifelong learner, he committed himself to learning all that he could about the Ann’s dementia in order to help her and other families coping with that disease. Jim cherished his family, his neighbors, and his church, Cary Presbyterian, where he served as usher, Sunday school leader, and lay leader on various committees. In 2018 he was selected as an Outstanding Elder by the Presbyterian Church. Always seeking to set an example for others to follow, he will be remembered for his integrity, kindness, storytelling, generosity, and faith. Most of all, he will be remembered for his love.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Cary Presbyterian Church in Cary, NC.

Arrangements with Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary, NC.