Kurt Heinz Weber

Kurt Heinz Weber, 94, of Hendersonville passed away Friday, January 23, 2015 at Carolina Village Medical Center after a period of declining health. A native of Westphalia, Germany, he lived in Henderson County since 1986. Kurt was the son of the late Richard and Elsa Poehler Weber, and the husband of the late Margaret Victoria Weber who died October 21, 2013.

After graduating from Lehigh University with a degree in Physics, Kurt worked in the Physics Departments of Muhlenberg University, Amherst College and the University of Pennsylvania. Kurt obtained his PHD in Physics in 1947 from Yale University. Shortly thereafter, he joined the High Voltage lab at General Electric and worked in GEís transformer line of business. In 1957, Kurt moved to Cleveland, Ohio and began work for GEís Lighting Group at the Nela Park facility. During his tenure with the Lighting Group, Kurt obtained numerous patents including the patents for the flash cube, which greatly increased the light output compared to the flash equipment of the time, flip flash, improvements in electro luminescence, lighting associated with copying machines, halogen lamps and other lighting improvements. During such time, Kurt particularly enjoyed the intellectual challenge of working for and with Edwin Land of Polaroid. Kurt completed his career with GE, first as Manager of Overseas Engineering, which took him to Japan, Europe, Turkey, South America and many other points on the globe as he improved engineering processes at GEís numerous worldwide lighting manufacturing facilities and participated in numerous acquisitions of companies in the lighting business on behalf of GE. Kurt concluded his time with GE in 1985 as a General Manager of the Lighting Group.

In addition to the career which he greatly enjoyed, Kurt loved to play golf and compete with his friends on the golf course. With the same drive that marked his working career, Kurt pursued improvement in his golf game. Notably, Kurt had 7 holes in one in his lifetime with the last 6 coming between the ages of 87 and 92, mostly at Hendersonville Country Club. Kurt also participated in the Senior Olympics in golf and table tennis, winning the North Carolina State tournament and the National competition in his age group (90 to 95) in golf and placing highly in table tennis.

Survivors include three sons, Eric Weber of Canton, OH, Mark Weber of Cincinnati, OH, Craig Weber of Tampa, FL; a daughter, Margo Emery and her husband Douglas of Peoria, IL; six grandchildren, Stephen Weber, Karen Cornelissen, Jacqueline Weber, Katherine Weber, Sarah Heider and her husband Brent, and Lisa Emery; a great-grandson, Ayden Heider; and a nephew, Kevin Barnes.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Peoria, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, 119 Eastwood Circle, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or Alzheimerís Association, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.