Billie Nelson Kurth

Billie was born on May 27, 1923 in Humboldt, Arizona to William and Lillian Nelson. She attended Superior High School in Superior, Arizona where she met her future husband Stanley William Kurth. She received a full scholarship to the University of Arizona and graduated in 1944 with a degree in Chemistry. She went to work for Union Oil Company in Southern California where she was the first woman to work in their chem lab. She moved back to Arizona when Stanley William Kurth came back from military service after World War II. They were married on November 7,1948 in Phoenix, Arizona. Billie worked in a Phoenix based chem lab for a short time before staying home to raise her two sons, Stanley William Kurth III (born November 15, 1949) and Stephen Alden Kurth (born April 3, 1951). She went back to college to get a teaching certificate. She completed student teaching at Montebello Grade School in the Alhambra School District, where her two sons were students. After completing the student teaching she was hired by the same district to teach at Maryvale Grade School, which later changed names to Cordova Grade School. She taught 4th and 6th grade and was very much adored by her students.

She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa and First Families of Arizona (her mother, Lillian Corely was born in Arizona before it became a state, which qualified her descendants as First Families of Arizona). Billie loved the outdoors, rockhounding, hiking and camping. She was also an award-winning trap shooter and served on the board of directors for the Phoenix Trap and Skeet Club.

Billie, a kind, caring and loving wife, mother, and grandmother is survived by her son - Stanley William Kurth III and his wife Janet Louise Kurth; grandchildren Stephen Nelson Kurth, Julie Marie Sanchez, Briana Natalie Kurth, Candice Faye Kurth, Sarah Rae Kurth and Emily Desiree Kurth; daughter-in-law Deborah L. Cain - Kurth; grandchildren Jodi Lahmeyer, Jamee Headrick, Matthew Jason Kurth, Justin Forest Kurth and Chandler William Kurth and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, son Stephen, three sisters Viola, Barbara & Betty and one brother Jack.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside service on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 9AM at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale.