Walter Joseph Kurth ’74

A funeral for Walter Joseph Kurth, who died Aug. 27, 2011, was held at noon Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, at Sunnyside Little Chapel of the Chimes. Walter was born Oct. 9, 1933, in Akron, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Akron with majors in History and German. A teaching assistantship brought him to the University of Washington from 1955 to 1958, where he earned a master’s degree in German Literature.

In 1958 he married Mary Lou Rosche and they spent their first year of marriage in Hamburg, Germany, where Walter studied on a Fulbright Grant.

After several years of teaching college, the Kurths moved to Portland, where Walter taught German at Roosevelt and Adams high schools. In 1974 he earned a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Oregon and became a reference librarian at Multnomah County Central Library for the next 20 years. He retired in 1994.

The Kurths were lifelong lovers of classical music, both having given duo piano recitals during their college days in Akron. Travel was their other special pleasure, especially getaways to the Oregon Coast.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife; sons William of Eugene and Theodore of Philadelphia; daughter in law, Karla, and grandson Grayson.