Raymond A. Kurtz, 98, of East Syracuse passed away peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Always proud of his country, he was drafted into the US Army Air Force two weeks after his high school graduation. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant and he kept many of the US pilots safe as he was a crew chief of a P38 fleet. He was stationed throughout the US and proudly served with his three younger brothers. He was honorably discharged February 18, 1946 and returned to Syracuse where he met the love of his life, Elaine at a USO dance. They were married for 62 years before her passing in 2016. He is also predeceased by his brothers, Carl, Thomas and Donald; and his sister, Irene.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ronald and Karin; his grandchildren Heather Rodriguez and Sean Kurtz; great-grandsons, Dominic and Antony Rodriguez; grandson-in-law, Dominic A. Rodriguez; and his sister and brother-in-law Jeannie and Don Ives.

A memorial service will be held at 9:30 am on Monday at the R.H. Schepp & Son Minoa Chapel, 6530 Schepps Corners Rd., Minoa. Burial with military honors will be in White Chapel Memory Gardens in DeWitt.

Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, CNY Chapter, 441 Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204.