Robert Harvey Kuzma

Robert Harvey Kuzma, 76, died on June 30, 2014, after a devastating illness. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 14, 1938, Bob was the son of Hazel Marie and Theodore “Frank” Kuzma, who preceded him in death. For the past 28 years, Bob was a member of the McMurry University faculty as an Associate Professor of Business Administration. Teaching was a joy for Bob. He looked forward to the beginning of each semester when he would meet new students. When asked why he liked teaching, he would say, “I just love those kids!” He was a mentor to countless students and tutored them in many subjects. K.O. Long, Dean of the McMurry School of Business, remembers Bob as a “valued friend and colleague” who was “above all, a true gentleman, and we will miss him.” Bob grew up in Ohio. In 1958, following two years of college, he joined the U.S. Air Force, leading to a twenty-year career as a radar navigator, including countless tours to Vietnam. He was based in Kansas, Mt. Home, Idaho; Guam, Thailand, and Okinawa prior to his Dyess assignment. He retired as a Major. He completed two years in college in Ohio before joining the Air Force. Later, Bob received a B.A. in Business Finance from McMurry University, a Master’s degree in Finance from Hardin-Simmons University, and a Master’s degree in Accounting from Abilene Christian University. He became a licensed C.P.A. Additionally, he earned extensive hours in two separate doctoral degree programs at the University of North Texas at Denton. Bob and the former Vicki Garrett met in Kansas and were married on February 2, 1963. Last year, their children helped them celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Bob’s life was much more than a list of facts can portray. He was an infinitely kind and patient person who loved spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a loyal sports fan and a cherished friend. He was a member of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal. He is survived by his wife, Vicki, of Abilene; his son, Andy, of Corinth; his daughter, Sherry Oberholtzer and her husband, Mark, of New Braunfels; two granddaughters, Maddie and Savanna Oberholtzer; his brothers, Mike Kuzma of Melbourne, Florida, and Ted Kuzma of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; two sisters, Carole Marrow, of Seabring, Ohio, and Cheryl Early, of Beloit, Ohio; and a sister-in-law, Ginny Turvey, and her husband, Bob, of Lawrence, Kansas. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal, 602 Meander Street, Abilene, Texas 79602, or to Office of Institutional Advancement, 1 McMurry University, Box 938, Abilene, TX 79697 (Please designate on your check that it is for the School of Business in honor of Bob Kuzma.) Memorial services will be held at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal, 602 Meander Street, at 10:30a.m., Thursday, July 3, with the Rev. David Romanik officiating, followed by inurnment at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 West Lake Road, at 1:00pm. Arrangements are by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.