Leslie Max Lortz

Leslie Max Lortz, 95, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2020 in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Les was born March 14, 1925 in Tulsa , Oklahoma to Pauline Alice Groff Lortz and Francis Schuyler Lortz. He was confirmed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1933. He was a member of the Kansas City Boys Choir. Just after graduating from Wichita, Kansas, Wichita East High School in May of 1944, Les was inducted into selective service in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July of the same year.
He departed to the World War II Asiatic Pacific Campaign on February 9, 1945 upon completion of his Army training. Les served with the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division in Okinawa, Japan and surrounding islands. For 9 months he was Platoon Sergeant responsible for the welfare of 37 men. After that he was promoted to Acting First Sergeant in charge of 150 men, giving lectures and demonstrations in training techniques.
Les received medals for the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, Good Conduct, World War II Victory and Army of Occupation.
After the war Les moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to embark on a career in Engineering. He worked as a Junior Engineer at Convair (now Lockheed), where he met his future wife, Mary Myers, in 1951. Les and Mary were married in Fort Worth on April 4, 1952 and resided in Irving, Texas and moved to Colleyville in 1973. Les attended TCU for two years, then went to work for Bell Helicopter in the mid-50's. He worked on a variety of aircraft projects including the XV in the late 50's which later developed into the V22 Osprey Aircraft that is used in today's military. He worked his way up to Chief of Airframe Design for this aircraft, and many others at Bell Helicopter until his retirement in 1990. Les was responsible for forming the Bell Golf League, where he participated every year of his employment.
Les and Mary had 2 daughters, Lea Ann, born in January of 1961 and Sharon Elaine born in April of 1968. They were active members of Kirkwood Methodist Church in Irving, Texas, where he was a member of the church choir.
Les enjoyed the outdoors with hobbies of fishing, golfing, hunting, woodworking, art and gardening where he raised prize-winning Chrysanthemums.
Les resided in Bedford after retirement, then moved to Boerne, Texas in 2009.Les resided at Heritage Place Assisted Living in Boerne for 6 years where he received impeccable care. Les was honored and attended the Alamo Honor Flight in Washington, DC for the WWII vets, in 2012.
In 2019, Les moved to Fredericksburg,Texas where he passed away on March 14th.
Les is survived by two daughters and their spouses; Lea Ann and Richard Parsley of Grapevine, Texas, Sharon and Kent Wahl of Fredericksburg, Texas; Four Grandchildren, Kristen Parsley Cole, Daniel Parsley, Mitchell Wahl and Aubrey Wahl; three Great Grandchildren, Bentley Cole, Jameson Cole and Ruby Cole.
Due to safety concerns regarding COVID-19, the family has expressed that they wish no one except family to attend services. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to the Alzheimer's Association at: alz.org/donate, Alamo Honor Flights at: honorfliLeslie Max Lortzghtsanantonio.org or charity of your choice.

SELFLESS
I was given the honor to eulogize my Father-in-law next week on Wednesday, March 25 2020. Unfortunately, because of the issues our country and the world is going through, his funeral and his burial with military honors has been postponed and abbreviated. So I hope and pray that what I write next can give some comfort and closure to his daughters, family, and friends that loved him so dearly. Let me start by stating that whatever I write will not be able to express just how special Les was to all of us. I am better with spoken word, but I will do my best to share just who and what type of man he was and will always be to us all. So with God’s help I give you this.
During these trying times that our GREAT NATION and the world is going through we all have to sacrifice just a little bit more than we are used to. For our family we have the added sadness of losing Les on his 95th birthday. March 14, 2020.
The one word that describes my Father-in-law, Leslie Max Lortz, has always been “SELFLESS.” Every story here about Les will demonstrate him being “SELFLESS”.
Selfless: Concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own.
As a very young child Les learned to play golf in a field behind his childhood home and because our country was in the middle of the Great Depression it was with a set of homemade clubs. This was the start of his passion for golf in which he was a single digit handicapper for many years. He formed the Bell Helicopter Golf League where he won numerous individual and team championships. I wish that I would have known this when I first started playing golf with Les, because I did not beat Les at golf until he was into his late 70’s. You should have seen the surprise in my eyes when we moved Les to live near us in 2009 and we unpacked boxes and boxes of Championship trophies along with a Hole in One plaque. Just one of many things Les NEVER bragged about.
At a very young age in the late 1930’s Les and his sister, Leila were thrust into the 24 hour care of his mother Pauline while she was battling tuberculosis. He was thrust into becoming the man of the house, because his father had to travel quite a bit for his job. I often wonder how many of us could have done that at such a young age.
In high school Les excelled not only academically, but also sang in a quartet and the Kansas City Boys Choir. Later in life he sang in the church choir at Kirkwood Methodist church in Irving. He never stopped singing and could still remember every word of his favorite songs....even when his Alzheimer’s was at its worst.


Two months after his graduation from high school, Les was inducted into Military Service on July 26, 1944 in Leavenworth Kansas. He departed to World War ll Asiatic Pacific Campaign on February 9, 1945 following his army training. He served with the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division in Okinawa Japan and surrounding islands. During his time in WW ll Les was promoted to Platoon Sergeant and had 37 men under his care and command where he was responsible for their leadership and welfare. When the war ended he was promoted again to First Sergeant in charge of 150 men, giving lectures, demonstrations and training. His leadership and hard work helped start the rebuilding of Japan.
After the war Les moved to Dallas / Ft Worth area and attended TCU for 2 years. He went to work at Convair where he met Mary Myers. They married in Ft. Worth on April 4, 1952. Their friendship remained steadfast throughout the years. Les always had the utmost admiration and respect for Mary, and together they were a constant presence in their daughters and grandkids lives.
In the mid 1950’s Les went to work at Bell Helicopter and retired from there in 1990. He worked and engineered on a variety of aircraft designs including the VX in the late 1950’s which later developed into the V22 Osprey Aircraft that is used by military. He worked his way up to Chief Engineer of Airframe Design for this aircraft and many others during his employment at Bell Helicopter.
His daughters Lea Ann & Sharon were Les’s whole world. I can truly say I have never met a father that was more engaged in his kid’s welfare and what they were doing. They both will say “Dad made everything a Big Event!” He could make the simplest things seem larger than life….from picking out the perfect pumpkin at Halloween or the perfect Christmas tree which continued on for all of us as adults. If you have never taken all day and visited 4 or 5 pumpkin patches or Christmas tree lots and then doubled back to go get the perfect one, well then you just haven’t done it the Les Lortz way. Lea Ann & Sharon said they would never forget these simple moments that he made so special. He would hunt Easter eggs with them all day on Easter Sunday, going to go get snow cones was a treat, pulling out the projector to watch a slide show on family night, helping with school projects, playing board games for hours, big brown paper bag of stove popped popcorn and laying in backyard hammock with dad was very special, taking the family to the deer lease and somehow talking mom into gutting fish and cleaning ducks after a hunt. Les enjoyed taking the family to Six Flags and Rangers games and lots of fun memories on family vacations at Hide-Away-Lake.
Les could do anything and everything and many people can, but not to perfection like Les. You always had to remember that Les was an engineer so whether it was wood working, playing golf, growing champion winning chrysanthemums or landscaping. I could go on and on. You name it, Les could do it and do it well. There is one reason why the Wahl’s and Parsley’s yards looked so beautiful…Les! I remember the first time I went to Lea Ann & Richards’s house and was in awe of their yard. I found out that Les was the architect and creator of their backyard paradise, so of course with a little persuasion we had Les create the same for us.
The engineer in him came out all the time. For instance to hang a picture on the wall. It took me some time to get used to why Les took 30 – 40 measurements to include: size of the picture, room circumference, length and height of wall and, I believe the barometric pressure as well….Just to make sure the picture was hung perfectly! He also designed and made the beautiful fireplace mantles and art niche shelving in our home. He would look at what our builder put in and it just didn’t make the Les perfection cut.

He was an excellent cook and loved to BBQ. His meals were always a delicious treat. Dozens of times Les would prepare Alaskan king crab for us to include the crab meat being extracted from its shell. I didn’t realize that all crab didn’t come that way until I went out to eat at a restaurant and had to crack and extract my own. He made eating at his table a special treat.
He loved his grandchildren with all his heart. Kristen was the first and only grand girl. Her brother Daniel was the first of three grand boys. He spent countless hours with Kristen and Daniel attending school events and watching Kristen’s ice skating competitions or Daniel’s Tai Kwan Do. He was with Daniel when he killed his first buck and was so excited when Kristen gave him his first of three Great Grandchildren to include twins Bentley, Jameson and their little sister Ruby.
Sharon and I were very fortunate that Les retired right before we got married, which gave him lots of time and an open invitation to stay with us whenever he so desired. He enjoyed spending time with grandchildren Mitchell and AJ. He and Mary were able to both be at the hospital together when AJ was born. He would spend weeks at a time with us and was a built in baby sitter. Mitchell and AJ both will tell you that he was the best paper airplane maker in the world (he better be he was an aviation engineer). The boys said “Grandad’s planes would fly forever”. Even over the past year they both were hoping that he would be able to make them just one more paper airplane. He would take them on walks and exploring in Blockhouse Creek Park near our first home. He and Mitchell always had a special bond. They truly had intellectual similarities…they are both smarter than most. He and AJ were perfect for each other when it came to the outdoors. Hunting was their passion together and Les hunted with AJ every chance he could. AJ was hunting with Les when he took his last buck at the 4W Ranch.
When Les moved into an apartment near us in Fair Oaks Ranch he would walk over almost every day and of course work in our (his) garden and yard. Our neighbors grew to know and love Les as well. Many which would still call and check on him in the years since he moved. Complete strangers just grew to love and respect the man.
The family would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the Alamo Honor Flight which Les was an honoree back in 2012. He was a proud yet very humble veteran it took some encouraging to get him to go to Washington DC and be honored for his military service. His Alamo Honor Flight guardian Elaine became part of our family ever since she took Les and cared for him during his trip. We want to thank you again Elaine for taking care of and loving Les.
Would like to recognize Heritage Place Boerne. Les moved there in 2013. Sara and her staff’s care resulted in Les’s longer and greater quality of life. Of course Les was involved and always working there as well. From setting up bingo, handing out the exercise equipment, making the flower arrangements for the table settings on special occasions. And always a gentleman, he was always helping the ladies to their tables at dinner time. Thanks again Sara and to all of you at Heritage Place - you made it a home.
Thanks to the VA Healthcare and New Century Hospice for all of your care. They were cared for Les every step of the way. If you ever want to feel the presence of God please sit down and visit with a Hospice nurse. The most kind, caring and compassionate people I have ever met. I don’t know how they do it, but I pray God’s hand reaches down and blesses them each day.
Lastly, this eulogy would not be complete without talking about Les’s best friend “Joe Roberts.” Les met Joe and Jenny in 1964 when they moved in across the street in Irving. Joe and Les soon became friends. The love they shared for the outdoors gave them plenty of time and excuses to go hunting and fishing together. When both families moved apart Les loved spending time with Joe and Jenny at their farm in Oklahoma where he picked blackberries for his infamous “Oklahoma Seedless Blackberry Jam!” Les made a huge final batch years ago. He canned well over 40 jars. Of Les’s final batch we are down to the last several jars so we have been rationing ourselves to 1 jar a year for several years now. So to Joe I say this…
“Les always remembered you Joe, his best friend even in his final days when he couldn’t remember much or anyone else. He treasured your friendship always and forever. And Joe, with your friendship comes one final gift from our family to yours…..We have one jar left of “Oklahoma Seedless Blackberry Jam” with your name on it and headed your way. Always remember and enjoy”.
To the most SELFLESS person I have EVER met. When you go to heaven the only thing you leave behind that matters is your legacy about who you were here on earth. I know no one better than you Les. I’m thankful God gave you to us and you will be truly missed.