Dr. Curtis Frederick Bartelt

Thanks be to God for the long, full life of Curtis Bartelt! Curtis Frederick Bartelt died peacefully, accompanied by his family, on Tuesday 5 September 2023, in his residence at Swift Creek, Cary, NC. He had suffered a series of health crises in 2023.

Curt was born to William Frederick and Mildred Spencer Bartelt in Philadelphia, on 30 May 1925. Curt was preceded in death by his first wife, Genevieve Fowle Bartelt, and his only sister, Mildred Bartelt.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Lynn Lund (Cary, NC); five children from his first marriage: Nina (Donald), Bristol, IN; Scott (Jan), Mesa, AZ; Grant (Charlotte), Petersburg, TN; Perry (Gloria), Advance, NC; and Ted (Beth), Raleigh, NC; as well as thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; and Lynn’s three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Curt enjoyed his growing up years on Tyson Street in Philadelphia. He lived in an extended household with his parents, his older sister, Mildred, Aunt Vera and both his grandmothers. He played stickball and baseball and enjoyed climbing his neighbor’s garage roof with his buddy to pick cherries. From early on he enjoyed singing in church choirs. He was the third-generation coronet player. (Now that honor has been passed to the sixth generation.)

Curt graduated from Frankfort High School with honors. He was immediately drafted in 1943. He participated in the Army Specialized Training Program, at Westminster College, PA, and then was trained in artillery. During WWII, Curt served in the 95th infantry division (the iron men of Metz) under general George Patton. He was part of the Red Ball Express that was a crucial logistical effort to get supplies inland after the landing in Normandy. He was also awarded the bronze star after the battle of Metz, a crucial battle during the last German counter offensive known as the “The Battle of the Bulge”. Though Curt's war experience was clearly formative of his life, he never spoke a word of it until 50 years after the war ended. Recently he especially wanted his grandchildren to hear how he was integrating the horrors of war into the story of his whole life as a healer.

Following the war, Curt attended Bucknell College (now University). He was active in Phi Lambda Theta fraternity, which, with its GI members, became the first integrated fraternity on campus. At Bucknell he met Genevieve (VV) Fowle while they teamed together as leaders of Freshman Fireside Chats. Curt graduated from Bucknell and enrolled in Temple Medical School in 1950.

Curt married VV Fowle on 2 September 1951. In the next six years Curt and VV had five children. Curt completed his medical training and began serving as a family medicine doctor in Rockledge, PA. He enjoyed a long partnership in medicine and friendship with George Hess and Bob Parsons. In 1960 the family moved a few miles away to Jenkintown, PA, where Curt and VV found the perfect small town on the edge of Philadelphia in which to raise their family. A dog was always a part of Curt and VV’s family. In 1975, Curt and VV moved to Charlotte, NC, where Curt continued his family practice.

Curt was active in Indian Guides, Lions Club, and the Men's Bible Study at Grace Presbyterian Church. He was often the sideline physician at Jenkintown football games. He loved his friends, his dogs, playing golf, and buying new cars. He purchased his last car at age 94.

Curt and VV took the family on camping vacations from Maine to Georgia, New Jersey to California. The highlight was a six-week cross-country-to-see-the-cousins trip in 1966. Vacations during the family’s teen years were spent on Red Horse Lake in Ontario for fishing and water skiing where friends were always welcome.

Lake Lure became a favorite golfing destination for Curt, and in 1986 he and VV became permanent residents of Fairfield Mountains, Lake Lure, NC. They were the generous hosts of many family summer vacations for their large family. The grandchildren grew up as cousins together there and carry many memories, including Grampa Curt pulling them on tubes behind his boat. There were many golf outings as well. Curt and VV were active in the Chapel at Fairfield Mountains, and Curt sang in the choir. In retirement, Curt and VV enjoyed traveling to see family, friends, and beauty. They enjoyed boat rides on Lake Lure and cruises to Alaska and in Europe. They loved exploring the mountain roads near home. Lake Lure continued to be the point of focus where Curt spent most of his remaining years with Lynn.

Curt was a wonderful doctor, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who was kind, loyal, trustworthy, loving, encouraging, a mentor to many, and well respected by all.

A memorial service for the family and friends will be held in Heater Hall at The Templeton of Cary, 215 Brightmore Drive Cary, NC 27518, on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 10:00 A.M.

Curt’s final resting place will be in the columbarium next to VV, at the Chapel at Fairfield Mountains, Lake Lure. A family reunion at Lake Lure is being planned for the summer of 2024.

Memorials may be given to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (https://medicine.temple.edu/about/giving/how-give), or Curt’s Alma Matter or UNC Health Foundation (http://unchealthfoundation.org/priorities/research), or Duke University School of Medicine (http://medicine.duke.edu/giving).

Service arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.