George P. Kurtz, 58, of Severna Park, died Jan. 21, 2006 after a brief illness.

Born at Fort George G. Meade in August 1947, Mr. Kurtz was a graduate of Severna Park High School and attended the University of Maryland at College Park.

As a captain for Air Transport International, a worldwide cargo carrier, at the time of his death, Mr. Kurtz pursued a lifelong interest in aviation that took him to all parts of the world. He learned to fly at age 12 and later became a certified flight instructor.

His career included service as a corporate pilot and as a captain for Henson Airlines, which eventually became part of US Airways.

He served in the Navy and the Naval Air Reserve as a flight engineer evaluator/instructor on the P-3 Orion. He also served as a ground instructor on several aircraft at Flight Safety International in Houston.

Mr. Kurtz was active in the community and worked to preserve and protect the Magothy River. His hobbies included boating, sailing and airplane and train collecting.

He was a member of the Royal Perth Yacht Club in western Australia, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Seaplane Pilots Association and the standards committee of the Train Collectors Association. He also was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park.

Surviving are his wife, the former Karen Steidl whom he married in 1992, and one daughter, Feodora Kurtz, born in 1994. The family lived in Springfield and Annandale, Va., for more than a decade before moving to Severna Park.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 689 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park. Burial will be private. Online condolences may be made to www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Feodora Kurtz Education Fund at M&T Bank, Attention: Cindi, 576 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146.