John Wurz Obituary

Family-Placed Death Notice

WURZ, John John Arnold Wurz passed away March 6th at Hospice Atlanta after a long and courageous battle with throat and lung cancer. John was born February 11, 1936 in Clarksdale, Mississippi and was the only child of Arnold and Mildred Wurz. He grew up in Marietta, GA and attended Marietta High School where he was an outstanding athlete. John was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated with a Master's Degree in Architecture from Georgia Tech, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu. He entered the United States Air Force, assigned to Nuclear Missile Command at Tinker, AFB, in Oklahoma. He returned to Atlanta and joined the planning and design team of Rich's Department Stores as a protégé of Alvin Ferst. John then joined Heery International where he became a partner leading projects across the globe including Saudi Arabia, Greece, and England. He was a registered architect in twenty states and was a Chartered Architect in the United Kingdom. John founded his own firm in 1980, Wurz, Weiscarver & Pruitt which specialized in award winning aviation projects. John was active in the American Institute of Architects, the Research Committee of Georgia Tech, the Building Futures Council, and the National Academy of Sciences. He was a former member and board member of Cherokee Town & County Club. John is survived by his loving wife, Eleanor Mitchell Wurz and his faithful and loving dog, Higgins; daughters, Valli (Gene) Maddox, Smarr, GA, Suzi (Tommy) Manning, Rome, GA, Corbett Wurz, Atlanta, GA; sons, Jay (Sue) McLemor, Franklin, TN, Chase Wurz, Sunnyvale, CA; eight grandchildren, brother-in-law Jim (Emily) Mitchell of Atlanta, and six nieces. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian, Friday, March 11 at 1:30 PM, Reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, GA 30019, and Trinity Presbyterian 3003 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30327. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation Society and Memorial Centers in Marietta (770) 420-5557.

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Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Mar. 7 to Mar. 9, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for John Wurz

9 Entries

Hearst Hearst

March 1, 2019

John, Patty and I talk about you often. You are missed and remembered. Rest in peace my friend.

Ralph Merrow, Jr

March 16, 2011

My sympathy goes out to John's family upon learning of his recent passing. I worked with John when he was at Heery International and knew him as a tough but equally fair man.

March 10, 2011

EJ, I am saddened today to have accidentally learned that John passed away this past Sunday. What a wonderful man John has been to me throughout the years. My heartfelt sympathies to you and Higgins. We shall treasure all the good times spent with John. Sara joins me in expressing our sympathy to you.
Sara & Robert L. Dabney IV

March 9, 2011

Daer Eleanor,Thank you for letting us know about John's passing. Patty and I send our deepest sympathy to you and all of John's family. Patty and I have such fond memeories of the time we spent with John on our many business trips. We speak of him often, he was such a trusted friend and we shall miss him. It is comforting to know that he is now in a much better place and for that we thank God.
Please stay in touch. Ron and Patty Hearst

Sondra Page

March 9, 2011

Eleanor,
I am so sorry for your loss and for John's children. John was such a delightful, charming man and the two of you were a perfect couple.
I love you,
Sondra

March 8, 2011

Gwen Osgood and Paul Wehrlen send their deepest sympathy to you, Eleanor, and to all of John's children and grandchildren. John was nothing short of a hero to all of us on the mammoth S.E. Michigan Project for General Motors in Warren, Michigan. He brought 12 of us together from all over the United States to support him during his leadership of that awesome project on the famous Saarinen Campus, and in doing so, he became a close friend to all of us. He fostered our careers, gave us tremendous opportunities in leadership, instilled in us his appreciation of great architecture and brought us laughter, camaraderie and friendship to offset our many long hours on the job. Most importantly, he genuinely loved and cared about each and every one of us. He was so much fun, told the best jokes in the world, and was always the highlight of our team's many dinners together. John's life was all about his friends and family and staying connected to those he loved. Right now, Paul and I are broken-hearted to learn of his death, but as sad as this moment may be, we remember his great big smile, that laughing face, those twinkling eyes and the many tight hugs he gave us during those wonderful years and many happy times with John. We already miss him greatly.......

- Gwen Osgood & Paul Wehrlen, San Diego & Newport Beach, California

Joyce Rhines

March 8, 2011

To the family"Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of distress." Nahum 1:7 May God Bless You.

Barb and Bob Sypult

March 8, 2011

EJ,

How sad we were to learn from Linda about John's passing. Thankfully, we had an opportunity to meet him on our trip to Atlanta. We send our deepest sympathy to you and pray for God's peace to surround you and give you comfort at this time. We send our love, B and Robert

Linda and Buddy Harden

March 7, 2011

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.

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