Vernon Goetz

Vernon C. "Bud" Goetz of Aberdeen died Aug. 13 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was 91. Born Jan. 22, 1917, in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Gottlieb and Carolyn Traub Goetz, immigrants from Germany. He was the youngest of six brothers and had a twin sister. He was the husband for 63 years of Mary Louch Goetz of Aberdeen, whom he married Dec. 26, 1944. He was a World War II veteran, serving as a first sergeant and gunner in B Battery, 549th Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 87th Division. For five years, he helped train recruits and replacements and was responsible for the actions of the entire battery. He served in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, during which he earned three campaign stars, a Good Conduct Medal, a World War II Victory Ribbon, an American Defense Service Medal and a European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon. The war was so horrible that he never talked about it, except to say he was never so cold and that the food was terrible. He was more than happy to stay home and eat his wife's good cooking after he returned safely to Harford County. He worked for 25 years as a chemical engineer with the Ballistic Research Laboratory at APG. He was a life member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. At St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, he was an usher who warmly greeted everyone by name every Sunday until recently, when his health would not allow him to attend. He loved being outside and had a beautifully-landscaped yard and tended a huge vegetable garden on his wife's family farm in Churchville. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. His fishing and hunting attire was a snappy bow tie, white shirt, jacket and a stylish hat, plus his fishing rod or rifle. He was also an avid reader with an extremely large vocabulary, which enable him to do crossword puzzles with ease. He also loved playing cards with family and friends. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Arletta Goetz, of Churchville; and many nieces and nephews and their families in Baltimore, Howard and Harford counties. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Edward Vernon Goetz, in 2001. A viewing will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today (Aug. 15), with the funeral service at 11 a.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 201 Mt. Royal Ave. in Aberdeen. Rev. G. Neale Wirtanen is officiating. Interment, with military honors being presented, will be in Harford Memorial Gardens in Aldino. Pallbearers will be Fred and Karl Goetz, Tom and Ed Kelly, RichardSheroy, Joe Stanley, Jim Waldrop and Mike Lindecamp. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Building Fund, 201 Mt. Royal Ave., Aberdeen, Md. 21001 Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001