Floyd Dale Kurtz

F. Dale Kurtz, age 91, died peacefully in his sleep on April 2, 2022, at Friendship Village, Dayton, Ohio. He was born December 19, 1930, to Russell and Anna (Roberts) Kurtz in Alton, Kansas. His journey took him from life as a farm boy to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, to twenty years with Youth for Christ, where he directed Campus Life, Saturday night rallies, and Lifeline—a juvenile detention center ministry. In 1974, Dale accepted the role of senior pastor at Patterson Park Church, a shepherding role he held for twenty-eight years. His last ministry venture was the founding of Camp Jabez, a gospel-centered horse ministry to kids.

For 70 years, Dale was devoted to his wife, Carol. Calling her his “beloved,” this old cowboy treated her like royalty, opening every door for her, helping her on with her coat, and always showering her with a dozen roses each of their 69 wedding anniversaries. Their life-long romance was a joy to behold from a distance. Dale and Carol were partners in life and ministry. Carol survives him. Together, they had four children, eight grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.

He modeled a life of faithfulness, integrity, creativity, humor, hard work, and an unswerving loyalty to the gospel. Marginal notes in Pastor Dale’s Bible reveal Exodus 34:10 as the verse that God used to call him to the ministry at PPC: “Then God said, ‘Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.’”

The Bible tells us that in heaven, Dale has now heard Jesus exclaim, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Patterson Park Church will host a celebration of Pastor Dale’s life on Tuesday, May 10 at 3:00 pm with two hours of visitation beginning at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to Patterson Park Church Mission Fund would honor Dale’s love for the gospel.