Gilbert Leo Kretzer
1920-2012
Obituary Notice for Gilbert L. Kretzer
Gilbert Leo Kretzer died Saturday, July 21, 2012, after a brief illness.
He was born in Lauderdale County on Oct. 1, 1920, to Fred and Edna Kretzer.
He is survived by two daughters, Ann (Charles E.) Hester, Killen, and Becky (Jerry) Hopper, Hoover; brothers, Charles Kretzer and Doyce Kretzer; sisters, Louise Wilson and Helen Dean; grandchildren, Leigh Ann Hanback, Jeff Hester, James Hopper, Jason Hopper, Ava Kretzer Blevins; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Vertice, his wife of 70 years, who died Jan. 19, 2012; sons, Jerry Gilbert, Brandon Frederick; brothers, William and Royce; sister, Evalene Pettus.
Brother Kretzer graduated from Lexington High School in 1939 and attended Pepperdine University, Freed Hardeman College and Florence State Teachers College.
He taught at Mars Hill Bible School in its formative years and preached for Churches of Christ for 70 years in the following locations: Lexington, Weeden Heights, York, Lee Hi (Florence Boulevard), Butler and Valdosta. He retired from Center Hill Church of Christ in 1995 as a full-time minister.
He continued to preach and teach in retirement.
The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Monday, July 23, 2012, at Florence Boulevard Church of Christ. Visitation will be noon-3 p.m. at the church, with Charles Kretzer, Danny Pettus and Chris Kemp officiating. Burial will follow in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mars Hill Bible School for the Jerry Kretzer Scholarship Fund. The family would like to thank special caregivers, Michael Gean, Joyce and Louis Trousdale, and to Dr. Mann and the third-floor west nurses at ECM Hospital.
You may sign the guest book at sprywilliams.com.
-Published in Florence Times Daily on July23,2012
Directions To The Grave of Gilbert Kretzer
Gilbert Kretzer is buried in the Tri Cities Memorial Gardens in Florence, Alabama. It is located at 2601 Florence Blvd., Florence, Alabama. The office number is 256.764.7542. The family plot is in the Garden Of The Apostles, at the front-center of the cemetery. Look for the statue with four scenes around it. Just in front and to the left is a line of trees. The Kretzer plot will be in front of the first tree on the left. Buried near the Kretzer plot are A.R., Sr. & Ferrell K. Hill, and also their son Albert, Jr. who was also a Shoals area preacher. Also nearby is the grave of another gospel preacher, Jimmy R. Vest.
GPS Location
34.829779,-87.634962
Kretzer plot just behind HILLIS on the left - Monument to the rear of the tree and to the right
KRETZER
Gilbert L. October 1, 1920 - July 21, 2012
Vertice L. June 16, 1924 - January 10, 2012
Photos Taken 09.2014, by Larry Miles & C. Wayne Kilpatrick
Webpage produced 10.29.2014
Courtesy of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com