William Kuhrman

William F. Kuhrman, age 74, of Millcreek Twp., passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at home.

He was born on June 18, 1938 in Erie, PA, the son of the late William Otto Kuhrman and Ruth Lucille (Kissman) Kuhrman.

William, known as Bill to some and Willie to others, was a graduate of McDowell High School, Class of 1956, and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

He received bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from Gannon College, a master's degree in biochemistry from Villanova University and attended three years of medical school at Hahnemann University.

After employment at Merck, Sharp and Dohme Corp. in pharmaceutical research, he went on to a distinguished 27-year career as a case officer in the Central Intelligence Agency.

William was a life-long devoted fan of Notre Dame Football, a disciplined runner, an avid reader and the loving father of seven children and ten grandchildren with a great-grandchild to come. He was also the author of seven books, most published under the pen name T.W. Frederick, and a small press publisher for 14 years after retirement. For the past several years he enjoyed the study of advanced mathematics and the Chinese language, as well as spending time with his wife and young children as a stay-at-home dad.

William was known by friends as intelligent, kind, conversant in many subjects, fiercely loyal and intensely spiritual. He was deeply loved and will be missed by all those he left behind.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda S. Elllingwood Kuhrman and three children at home, daughters Sara Julia Kuhrman and Jasmine Katherine Kuhrman and son William Julian Dennis Kuhrman. He is survived by a daughter Gretchen L. Kuhrmann and her husband Dan Stevens of Manassas, VA, grandson Matthias Armstrong of Los Angeles, CA, granddaughter Marijke Valdelomar and her husband Arnold of Costa Rica and their unborn baby boy Kayden Felix Valdelomar. William is also survived by a son Karl Otto Kuhrman and his wife Marjorie Ruth Fujara and their children Judson Otto Kuhrman, Mariana Feliz Shevick, Samuel Aheren Kuhrman and Jacob Alexander Kuhrman. William is also survived by a daughter Heidi K. Holton of Sevierville, TN, and her children Alexandra Fisher and Danielle Fisher; and he is survived by a son Erik C. Kuhrman and his wife Sandrine and their two boys Kaye Kuhrman and Casey Kuhrman of San Francisco, CA, as well as a brother, John Kuhrman and his wife Joanne of Lancaster, PA and their son John Kuhrman and grandson Matthew, their daughter Jennifer Hottenstein, her husband John and their children Jenavieve and Josiah also of Lancaster, PA, a sister Nancy Summerell and her husband Paul of Greensboro, NC; his first wife, Londa Kay Kuhrman Cooke of Sevierville, TN; parents-in-law Priscilla and Dennis Ellingwood, sister-in-law Angela Ellingwood, niece Zoe Ellingwood and nephew Adrian Ellingwood all of Hampden Maine.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home 3801 W 26th Street (at Powell Ave.) on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. A memorial service to celebrate William's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Luther Memorial Church 225 W. 10th Street Erie, Pa 16501 with Rev. William Coleman officiating.

Memorial contributions can be made to William's favorite charities which serve the poor and spiritual missions: Erie City Mission 1023 French Street Erie, Pa 16501, Emmaus Soup Kitchen 218 East 11th Street, Erie, PA 16503, Sisters of St. Joseph of NWPA 425 W. 18th Street, Erie, PA 16502 and Franciscan Sisters TOR of Steubenville, Ohio 815 North Street, Steubenville, OH 43952.