Chapter Eternal - Richwine '41 and Kourtz '43
We have been honored to call these men our Brothers. The condolences of Theta Chi’s extended worldwide family are offered to the family and friends of our deceased brothers.
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of:
Raymond E. Kourtz '43
passed on July 10, 2013
Raymond E. Kourtz passed away on July 10, 2013 at the age of 91. He is survived by son, Gregory Kourtz (St. Petersburg) and three step-daughters, Ann Neal and Beth Adcock of Pensacola and Judy Estes of Burleson, TX. Ray was born Nov. 28, 1921 and grew up in Frackville, PA, the only child of Harry and Sallie Kourtz. He enlisted in the Army during WWII and served three years stationed in France and the UK (arriving on the beach at Normandy a few days after D-Day). He attended Susquehanna University in Selingsgrove, PA and went on to get his Masters in Chemistry at Penn State University. He worked for American Cyanamid (now Cytec) in their Fibers Division 40+ years until his retirement. In Birmingham, England during WWII he met Winifred (Wyn) Knight whom he married in 1947 (1947-1973). After Wyn's death he married Willie B. Adcock in 1974 (1974-2013). Ray moved from Somerville, NJ to Pensacola in 1958 and resided in the Pine Glades Subdivision. Later moving to Gaberone Area, and then to Azalea Trace Community in 1998. He was a Mason (PA) and a Shriner. He dedicated his life to the future well-being of his Family. A Graveside ceremony will be held 10:00am Monday, July 15, 2013 at Bayview Memorial Park (3351 Scenic Hwy) with Chaplain Jim Dietz officiating. Special thanks to Marie Rideaux (Ray and BeBe's) Caregiver, the entire staff Willowbrook Court (Azalea Trace) and the "angels" who work at West Florida Hospital (ICU, etc.).
Francis K. Richwine '41
passed on July 15, 2013
Francis K. Richwine, 94, of Carlisle, died on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Carlisle Hospital. He was born on Jul. 15, 1919, in Harrisburg, a son of the late George Herbert Richwine and Florence Edna (Kost) Richwine.
Frank was a 1937 graduate of Camp Hill High School, the Pennsylvania State University (Class of 1941 with a B.S. Ed.) and the George Washington University School of Law (J.D. 1949, L.L.M. (Patent Law) 1950).
While at Penn State, Frank lettered as a member of the Rifle Team, served as a Squad Leader and Company Commander in the Army ROTC program, and was House Manager of Theta Chi fraternity.
Infantry Regiment and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1943. In Jul. 1944, he shipped out to the European Theater of WWII, where he joined 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Division as Battalion Communication Officer. With the 110th, Frank won four battle stars, seeing action in the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns. He marched with the 28th Division in its “Victory Parade” down the Champs Elysees in Paris on Aug. 29, 1944. In Dec. 1944, Frank was captured at the Battle of the Bulge and interned in German POW camps until being freed in Jan. 1945 in the face of the oncoming Russian advance on Germany.
1st Lieutenant Richwine was awarded the Army Occupation Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star Medal. He later won the Korea Defense Service Medal for service in the Republic of Korea.
In Dec. 1945, in Charleston, SC, Frank married 1st Lieutenant Dorothy Estelle Johnson, Army Nurse Corps and a veteran of the European Theater, serving with the 9th Army Field Hospital.
Frank later joined the Patent Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the US Army and served as Patent Counsel, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and Legal Officer with various commands in Washington, D.C., Korea, Okinawa, Tokyo, Japan and Paris, France. Upon his retirement from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967, he joined the General Electric Co. as a Patent Counsel. He retired from GE in 1984. He and his wife, Dorothy moved to Carlisle in 1985.
Frank was a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, a charter member of the Government Intellectual Property Lawyers Assoc. and was admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.
In Carlisle, Frank was active with the Military Officers Assoc., a local group of former Prisoners of War, the Camp Hill Old Boys and the Camp Hill Historical Society.
Frank’s wife of 63 years, Dorothy, preceded him in death. He is survived by a daughter, Joan Elizabeth Richwine of Westport, CT; three sons; G. Michael Richwine (and his former wife, Irene N. Richwine of Vienna, VA) of Wilmington, DE, Major (Ret) J. Christopher Richwine, USAF (and his wife, Connie) of Waynesboro and Donald Karl Richwine (and his wife, Clare) of Erie; and four grandchildren, Andrew C. Richwine, John P. Richwine (and his wife, Alicia) Kathryn Alexandra Richwine and Matthew P. Richwine.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Rev. Carol J. Bowman officiating. Burial with military honors by Cumberland County Honor Guard will be in Longsdorf Cemetery in New Kingstown. A viewing will be on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Medical Group Foundation, www.amga.org/foundation, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, www.theconsumervoice.org or the Long Term Care Community Coalition, www.ltccc.org. Please visit www.Since1853.com to send condolences.