Obituary of J. Philip Koontz

KOONTZ, J. Philip, 93, of Midland Park, NJ, formerly of Ocean Pines, MD, and Ridgewood, NJ, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, March 8. Born in Falls Church, VA on June 8, 1923, he was the son of the late Claude B. and Marie A. Koontz. Mr. Koontz was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater. At the conclusion of the war, he was appointed the military mayor of Taegu (now Daegu) in Korea at the age of 22, completing his service in 1946. He was graduated from Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC and Georgetown University in 1947. Mr. Koontz was married to the late Patricia Herlong Koontz for 64 years and is survived by 8 children: John (Mary Ann), Kathryn Quinn (Jim), Claudia Thayne (Ron, deceased), Marylou Fulford (Paul), Thomas (Cindy), Joseph (Pam), Andrew (Tracy), Robert (Nancy), 21 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. They cherished him for his humor, wisdom and counsel. He was predeceased by his son, David. Mr. Koontz was employed by Montgomery Ward in Baltimore and New York, retiring in 1982. An avid reader of the Wall Street Journal and other periodicals, he had a wide range of interests including history, current events, travel and classical music, and enjoyed discussing these topics with his family. For many years, he subscribed to both the Metropolitan Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. He came from a railroad family and had a life-long love of trains. He was a member of the Ocean City/Ocean Pines Kiwanis Club, and for many years, was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, building houses on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A devout man, Mr. Koontz was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, which he attended with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, March 13 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210.