Dr. Elam Stoltzfus Kurtz, age 86, of West Jefferson, passed away Monday evening, April 26, 2010 at his home.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gregg Plott, the Rev. Dan Hess and the Rev. Larry Shepherd officiating. Burial will be private.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 30 from 5-8 p.m. at Boone Family Funeral Home.

Dr. Kurtz was born in Elverson, PA on Tuesday, April 1, 1924 to the late Christian John and Elsie Stoltzfus Kurtz.

He is survived by: his wife, Orpah Mae Horst Kurtz; two sons, Rev. Dr. Michael Kurtz and wife, Rev. Karen, of Oak Ridge, NC and Dr. Kevin Kurtz and wife, Beth, of West Jefferson; two daughters, Karen Gross and husband, Joel, of Atlanta, GA and Becky Kurtz and husband, Paul Kvinta, of Atlanta, GA; three brothers, John Kurtz of Snow Hill, MD, Paul Kurtz of Elizabethtown, PA and Calvin Kurtz, of Elverson, PA; two sisters, Lena Carpenter of Metter, GA and Caroline Plank of Breman, OH; six grandchildren, Amanda Gross and husband, David Troyer, Conrad Gross, Joshua Kurtz, Anna Kurtz, Carter Kurtz, Kenan Kurtz; a soon to be adopted granddaughter, Marcela Kvinta; and several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Kurtz attended Eastern Mennonite College, graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1951, graduated from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in 1955 and completed his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio in 1956. Having an insatiable curiosity, he continued a lifetime of learning through his love for books.

Dr. Kurtz moved to Ashe County in 1956 to work with Dr. Dean C. Jones, Sr. at Ashe Memorial Hospital. After two years, he opened his medical office in Lansing. Because of his commitment to the advancement of general practitioners’ standards, he was a charter member and board certified in the specialty of family medicine in 1969. He was a member of the North Carolina and American Academies of Family Physicians, the Christian Medical and Dental Association and the Mennonite Medical Association.

For nearly fifty years he practiced medicine in Ashe County, and for most of those years he made house calls, delivered babies, and helped establish mental health services for the region. In addition, he mentored more than 60 medical students, many of which lived in his home.

In 1995, he joined his son, Kevin, to help establish High Country Family Medicine, until he retired at the age of 79. After retirement he continued his community involvement by delivering meals on wheels and serving as a hospice volunteer. He served on a number of local community boards including New River Mental Health, Ashe County School Health, and Ashe Services for Aging Foundation.

Dr. Kurtz was an avid cyclist - both bicycle and motorcycle. He earned the coveted motorcycle “Iron Butt” Award for riding 1,000 miles in 24 hours. Following a diagnosis of heart disease in the early 1980s and with a commitment to maintaining good health, he began regularly riding his bicycle up Mt. Jefferson State Park Road. He completed over 1,000 trips to the top by the late 1990s. After his retirement, he enjoyed exercising and socializing at Mountain Hearts, a wellness center at Ashe Memorial Hospital.

Over his fifty-five years in Ashe County, Dr. Kurtz was actively involved in Warrensville Methodist Church, Jefferson Mennonite Fellowship, Meadowview Mennonite Church, and Big Laurel Mennonite Church. He sang in the choir, led music, led youth groups, and taught Sunday school. His passion for singing led him to the local barbershop quartet, Ashe Choral Society, and multiple solo performances at special occasions. He was an accomplished musician including playing the auto harp and organ.

Elam and his wife Orpah were blessed and privileged to enjoy 60 years of married life together, faithfully loving one another and consistently serving their community and beyond as a team. Elam loved to travel and explore God’s world. His children feel so blessed to have honored their parents’ 60th wedding anniversary by recently taking them to New York City where they shared their family relationships and made more memories.

Elam, affectionately known to the family as “Pop,” passed on his intense love of games to his family and friends. He especially enjoyed chess, ping pong, Skip-Bo and speed scrabble. Although his family will miss him dearly, his playful and competitive spirit still lives on.

For nearly one-half century, Dr. Elam Kurtz served the healthcare needs of Ashe County. He was devoted to his family, Christ and his church, and was a man of many diverse passions.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation, 200 Hospital Avenue, Jefferson, NC 28640 or Warrensville United Methodist Church, PO Box 187, Warrensville, NC 28693 or Ashe Services for the Aging Foundation, PO Box 9, West Jefferson, NC 28694.

You may give the family your condolences at our website located online at www.boonefuneralhome.com.

Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.