Pocomoke City - Eugene Raymond Kurtz passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024. Eugene was born on March 30, 1937 at Colmar Manor, MD to John and Ruth (Hartzler) Kurtz. His mother died shortly after his birth and he was raised as a young child by his paternal grandmother, Amelia Mosemann Kurtz. John married Genevieve Horst in 1941 and she lovingly cared for Eugene as her own. John and Genevieve had three more sons, Donald, Calvin, and John Douglas. The family moved across the bay, living on a series of farms, eventually settling on Gordy Road in Somerset County. Eugene would wake up early to milk cows and perform other tasks on the farm before going to school. He graduated from Marion High School in 1955 where he excelled at sports. He won the Best Athlete award his senior year. After graduation, he was accepted into the PAX program through Mennonite Central Committee. PAX was a program that provided a United States government recognized alternative to military service for Mennonites. He was sent to serve building houses among other things in Morocco and parts of Europe. He made lifelong friends during this time of service and discovered a love of travel and adventure. He returned to the United States in 1958 after the death of Genevieve, the only mother he had ever known. He spent some time shortly after his return in Pennsylvania's Lankenau Hospital as a test subject for the very new NASA Space Program. Eugene married Catherine Malin on February 29, 1964. They had three daughters, Heidi (Paul Hewitt) of Philadelphia, Diane Daniels (Lee), and Krista of Pocomoke. They bought the farm on Gordy Road where Eugene had grown up, and where Cathy still lives. They were very active members of Holly Grove Mennonite Church for decades.  Eugene also sang in a gospel quartet called the Unity Quartet. They traveled and performed throughout the Eastern Shore. In 1991, Eugene earned a school bus contract with Somerset County Public Schools. Bus 43 has transported hundreds of students and continues today with the help of his brother J.D. Kurtz. Eugene will be remembered as a kind, giving and witty man whose faith carried him through to the end. He is survived by his wife and three daughters, as well as seven grandchildren, Sarah Daniels Klabe (Jeffrey), Gracie Daniels Ramirez (Danny), Noah Daniels, Julian Wilson, Phoebe Wilson, James Hewitt, William Hewitt. He is also survived by one great-granddaughter, Emilia Gene Ramirez. A Celebration of Eugene's Life will take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Holly Grove Mennonite Church, 7333 Mennonite Church Road, Westover, MD. Lunch will be provided after the service. The family will have a private burial at a later date.