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In Memoriam

Catherine "Eileen" McCurdy (Schotz) - Class Of 1934 VIEW PROFILE

Catherine Eileen McCurdy (Schotz)

Katherine Eileen "Eileen" McCurdy, daughter of  Dr. Russell James (1892-1931) and Gertrude Beth (Hudson) (1896-1929) McCurdy, was born 19 September 1917, Michigan.  Her mother Gertrude was a 1912 graduate of Okemos High School.  In 1919 the McCurdy family moved to Seattle, King County, Washington where Dr. McCurdy practiced medicine and later became president of the King County Medical Association.  At age 14 Eileen and her 12 year old brother, Wells, were orphaned and sent east to live with their grandparents, Rev. George and Emma Hudson, in Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.  Eileen graduated in 1934 from Okemos High School.  She went on to attend and then graduate from Michigan State College.  She married Willard K. Klunzinger 20 August 1938, East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 31 August 1938

COUPLE SPEAK NUPTIAL VOWS IN CHAPEL OF PEOPLES CHURCH

Coral-colored gladioli, ferns and palms banked the altar of the chapel of People church, East Lansing Tuesday afternoon for the wedding of Miss Katherine Eileen McCurdy of Okemos and Willard R. Klunzinger of east Lansing, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Klunzinger of Detroit.  The Rev. H. G. Gaige, associate pastor of Peoples church, read the service.

The bride's gown of delphinium blue corded georgette was cut with short puffed sleeves, and a full skirt that swept to the floor.  A row of tiny buttons extended from the high shirred neckline to the hem of her gown.  A matching blue veil cascaded to her shoulders from a tiara of lilies of the valley.  She carried an arm bouquet of lilies of the valley and white bride's roses.

Miss Diana Young of East Lansing, the maid of honor, wore coral corded georgette in a shade that matched the gladioli at the altar, cut on lines of similar to the bride's A coral colored Juliet cap and matching flowers completed her costume.  Fred G. Riser, Lansing, attended Mr. Klunzinger as best man.  The ushers were Stuart Bearup of Okemos and Francis Andrews of East Lansing.

After the 75 guests were assembled Mrs. Helen Roberts Sholl presented an organ recital that included "Liebestraum," "O Promise Me," "At Dawning," "I Love You Truly," Schubert's "Serenade," and "Calm As the Night."

A reception at the home in Okemos of Mr. and Mrs. George Bearup, the bride's aunt and uncle, followed the ceremony.  A wedding cake flanked by bowls of pastel snapdragons centered the table.

Out-of-town guests were: .......Wells McCurdy, Seattle, Washington......

Immediately following the reception, the young couple left on a trip through northern Michigan.  They will be at home in Ann Arbor after September 7.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Klunzinger were graduated from Michigan State college.  While attending school there, Mrs. Klunzinger was a member of Chi Omega fraternity.  Mr. Klunzinger is studying at the University of Michigan where he is a member of Alpha Kappa Kappa.

Willard, born 3 April 1915, Wayne County, Michigan, was a 1936 graduate of Michigan State College.  He was also a very accomplished tennis player both in high school and in college.  Willard graduated with his medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1941 and came back to the Lansing area to build his medical practice and family.  He and Eileen would raise four sons together before his untimely death 16 August 1970, Ingham County.  Willard was interred Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 17 August 1970

E. LANSING PHYSICIAN DIES AT 55

Dr. Willard R. Klunzinger, 55, of 810 Roxburgh Rd., East Lansing, died Sunday in a local hospital.

A lifelong resident of the East Lansing area, he graduated from Michigan State University in 1936 and from University of Michigan in 1941.  He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Ingham County Medical Association, the Flying Physicians Association, the MSU Varsity Club and the MSU (S) Club.  He was a director of the Country Club of Lansing, the Lansing Press Club, Lansing City Club, Masonic Lodge 480 F and Am of East Lansing and Lansing Commandery 25 Knights Templar and UMCA.

Surviving are his wife, Eileen; four sons, James of Allen Park, Thomas of Detroit and Bruce and Gary of east Lansing; and a granddaughter.

Services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing, with burial in Glendale Cemetery in Okemos.

Eileen, after Willard's death, was employed by Jacobson's Department Store.  She worked there until her 1992 marriage to an old friend of Willard's, Harold "Hock" Scholtz.  Hock, born 4 January 1913, Michigan, died 20 February 2005.  He'd been an outstanding athlete at MSC earning 5 varsity letters in basketball and tennis.

Eileen died 15 March 2010, East Lansing.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 17 March 2010

EILEEN McCURDY KLUNZINGER SCHOLTZ

EAST LANSING

Eileen died March 14, 2010, completing a long and eventful life anchored by her two great loves, Willard Klunzinger and Hock Scholtz.  She was born September 19, 1917 in St. Johns and soon moved to Seattle, Washington with her parents; Russell and Gertrude (Hudson) McCurdy who died all too soon in separate accidents, so Eileen and younger brother Wells returned to Michigan to be raised apart by relatives.

She graduated from Okemos High School in 1934 as President of the Student Council.  She joined the Chi Omega Sorority and enrolled at Michigan State College, where she met Willard Klunzinger of East Lansing, whose tennis teammate was Harold (Hock) Scholtz of Grand Haven.  Eileen and Willard married at Peoples Church in 1938 and in time he received his M.D. degree from the University of Michigan, where Eileen worked on one of the first computers.  In 1945 they returned to East Lansing where they raised their family.  After Willard's untimely death in 1970, Eileen returned to the work force, eventually retiring from Jacobson's in 1992 when she married Hock Scholtz.  She was again widowed in 2005 but continued with her love of music, playing songs learned long ago on the piano regularly until her death.  Throughout her life, she loved to travel and attend musical theater, particularly at Riverwalk and Wharton Center.

She is survived by her sons, Jim (Rosanne), Tom, Bruce and Gary (Theresa); 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.



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