Max A. Koontz, 82, of Columbus died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Columbus.
Born in Kannapolis, N.C., he was the son of the late Jennings Michael and Grace Thompson Koontz.
He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the U.S. Navy in the VP-4 Squadron before being honorably discharged in 1954. After his discharge, he studied at N.C. State University and earned his bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering. Shortly thereafter he worked for the Navy as a civil servant.
In 1984 he transferred to the Department of Energy in the senior executive service. His total government service was more than 38 years. He retired in 1996, and then moved to North Carolina and in 2008 moved to Columbus to his dream house in the mountains. He was a 60-year Mason and a member of Advent Lutheran Church.
Surviving are his wife of 18 years, Rose Gwynn Koontz; one brother, Kenneth Michael Koontz (Dianne) of Concord, N.C.; two sisters, Gilda Kuhn of Salisbury, N.C. and Rosemerry Koontz of Concord, N.C.; one son, Michael Koontz of Metamora, Mich.; four daughters, Christy Heussner (Robert) of Metamora, Mich., Sherry Koontz of Poolesville, Md., Kathy Koontz of Portland, Ore. and Kelly Koontz (Steven Arabia) of Darnestown, Md.; two stepsons, Fred Smith of Silver Spring, Md. and Pat Smith of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three stepdaughters, Theresa Gwynn of Colorado Springs, Colo., Catherine Kramer of Waldorf, Md. and Susan Myers of Rockville, Md.; grandchildren, Jens Panyard (Desiree), Jennings Alexander Heussner, Olivia Arabia and Samuel Arabia; two great-grandchildren, Kamron and Connor Panyard; former wife, Doris Koontz of Metamora, Mich. and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 at Advent Lutheran Church, Spindale, N.C., with Rev. Ron Fink officiating. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.