William J. Kortrey

 William J. Kortrey
Graveside services for Chief Master Sgt. William J. Kortrey, 84, of Washington, were held Friday, June 18, 2010, in Resthaven Cemetery, Washington, with full military honors. Rev. Donnie Crosswhite officiated. He died Sunday, June 13, at University Hospital, Augusta.
Sgt. Kortrey was born in New York City, N.Y., and was the son of the late William Kortrey and Caroline Hecht Kortrey. His first wife of 33 years was Anne Laura Wilkerson Kortrey who died in 1984. He enlisted in the United States Navy on July 8, 1942, and was discharged in June 1948. He promptly enlisted in the United States Air Force in September of that year, and served his country during World War II, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam Conflict. He received many awards during his time of service, the most prestigious being the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, both of which he was awarded twice. He retired from the Air Force in 1969. After moving to Washington, he worked as the executive director of the City of Washington’s Housing Authority for 30 years, retiring in 1999. He was a lifetime member of the Washington-Wilkes Country Club where he enjoyed golfing and dancing, often called “Mr. Fred Astaire.” He was a member of the Lions Club for several years, and a Little League baseball coach.
Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Ruth Vinson Kortrey of Washington; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Matthew and Sharon Kortrey of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Richard A. and Jenny Kortrey of Lizella, and Steven B. Kortrey of Macon; seven grandchildren, Adam and Lee Kortrey, Hannah and MacKenzie Kortrey, and Lauren, Julia, and Ryan Kortrey; and a sister, Doris Kortrey Peters, Boca Raton, Fla.; a stepson, Kenneth Davis and wife Barbara, their daughters, Amber Davis and Nina Davis and Adam Posey, and their two sons, Jacob and Alexander Posey.
Honorary pallbearers included Mike Eskew, Chan Drake, Lawrence Burton, Allen Burton, Jim Burton, Mike Davis, Tommy Bradford, and Joey Fievet.
Hopkins Funeral Home of Washington was in charge of arrangements.