Luke Koontz

Mr. Elbert Bowles “Luke” Koontz, 91, of NC Highway 150 South, Tyro’s Southern Gentleman, died Thursday at his home. The funeral will be held at 4:00 PM Sunday, March 28, at St. Lukes Lutheran Church, by Rev. Howard Baker. Burial will follow at Sandy Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:30 PM Sunday at the Church prior to the funeral service. Mr. Koontz was born July 19, 1918 in Davidson County to Charles Frank Koontz and Lennie Shoaf Koontz. He retired from the NC Department of Transportation and was a member of St. Lukes Lutheran Church. He was awarded as North Carolina’s Driver of the Year in 1954 for outstanding performance. His passion was his yard, gardening, and landscaping and the simple pleasures of life. His wife, Evelyn Kimbrell Koontz, preceded him in death as well as his brother, Clinton Koontz, and his sisters, Mary Koontz, Christine Swicegood, and Lorena Williams. Surviving are his daughters, Lynda E. Burrage of Rockwell, and Theresa K. Bruening and her husband, Bob, of Heathrow, Florida; his grandchildren, Richard Smith and his wife, Vickie, Teddy Burrage, and Shane Burrage and his wife, Tracy; and his great grandchildren, Allen Smith, Daniel Smith, Matthew Burrage, and Brandon Burrage. Memorials may be directed to the Sandy Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Terry Shoaf, 2268 Tyro Road, Lexington, NC 27295