Mrs. Helen "Betty" Kurtz

Helen “Betty” Kurtz 97 of Liberty Center passed away at 1:20 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2014, at her residence in Liberty Center surrounded by her family. Betty was born on May 3, 1916 in Liberty Center to Chase O. Garrett & Nellie B. (Popejoy) Garrett. She graduated from Liberty Center High School and obtained her teaching degree from Manchester University. She taught for many years in Wells County Schools, in Greencastle, IN and Appleton, WI, retiring in 1964. She was a member of the Liberty Center Baptist Church and a member of the Federated Church in West Lafayette. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Wives of the World and the Indiana Teacher’s Association. She volunteered in numerous positions in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Betty was an avid reader, well known by family and friends for her poetry, loved to travel and engage others in genuine conversation. She was a long time supporter of NPR, faithfully listening to Click and Clack and A Prairie Home Companion over the years. Modern Family and Everybody Loves Raymond were two television shows she rarely missed. On November 18, 1939 in Liberty Center she married Royce E. Kurtz. They shared 46 years together before he preceded her in death in 1985. She is survived by a son David R. (Jennifer) Kurtz of Lafayette along with three grandchildren; James R. Recker, II of Indianapolis, Daniel (Amy) C. Recker of Indianapolis and Elizabeth (Michael Rankin) B. Recker of New Mexico, along with five great-grandchildren; Chase, Phineas, Blake, Zella & Holden. She is also survived by a great niece; Taneka Garrett of Bluffton. Betty is preceded in death by a daughter Deanne E. Recker in October of 2013 and a son Garrett W. Kurtz in August of 2012 and a brother Joseph Dean Garrett in March of 2009 and a nephew Gregory “Greg” S. Garrett in January of 2014. A memorial service will be held at Fairview Cemetery on April 19th at 2:00 pm. Life Celebrant Jeff Lemler will officiate. Memorials may be made in Betty’s memory to the Royce E. Kurtz Educational Scholarship at Manchester University. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Thoma/Rich,Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.

Mrs. Helen "Betty" Kurtz

May 3, 1916 - February 7, 2014