Mrs. LaVern A. Krutza

December 6, 1930 - November 26, 2020

Funeral services for Mrs. LaVern A. Krutza, 89, of Longview, formerly of Carthage, Texas will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 6, 2020 at First Baptist Church of Carthage with Dr. Allen Tilley officiating. Burial will follow in Restland Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1-2:00 p.m. prior to services Sunday at First Baptist Church. Mrs. LaVern Adelaide Harbeck Krutza was born December 6, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to the marriage of Herman and Mildred Harbeck. She passed this life November 26, 2020 in Longview, Texas. The oldest girl of eleven children, LaVern was raised and schooled on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. She met her soulmate Jim Krutza, at a church Halloween blind date. They married, raised five children, and 70 years later remained devoted to one another. LaVern was a loving homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She and Jim were owner/operators of the Kountry Fresh Pizza for 23 years, working until she was 82. LaVern was a longtime member of First Baptist Church where she taught the high school girls Sunday School Class and sang in the choir. After moving to Longview, the Krutzas joined Mobberly Baptist Church where they enjoyed fellowshipping with their Sunday School class. She loved quilting, sewing, cooking, baking, traveling and spending time with grandkids, family, and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Floyd, Richard, Donald, Edward, Raymond, and Wayne Harbeck; sisters, Marlene Harbeck and Carol Hooker; infant son, Mark Krutza; granddaughter, Lauren Krutza; grandson, Josh Krutza and son-in-law, David Kuykendall. Mrs. Krutza is survived by her devoted husband, Jim Krutza of Longview, children, Jim Krutza and wife Linda of Bowling Green, KY, Becky Britt and husband Steve of Shreveport, LA, Paul Krutza and wife Marti of Bullard, Cheryl Kuykendall of Longview, and Yvonne Krutza of Carthage; brothers, Warren and Louis Harbeck; grandchildren, Drew and Amanda Krutza of Bowling Green, KY, Katie and Dan Dillingham of Bowling Green, KY, Daniel Britt of Shreveport, LA, Michelle Krutza of Fayetteville, AR, Rachel Kuykendall of College Station, and Emily Kuykendall of Lubbock; great grandchildren, Calvin, Silas, and Charlotte Krutza, and Liza and Lawson Dillingham; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. Serving as pallbearers will be, Daniel Britt, Dan Dillingham, Scott Harbeck, Larry Hooker, Brian Harbeck, Jason Shoffner, and Mike Shoffner. Honorary pallbearers will be, Drew Krutza, Steve Britt, Warren Harbeck, and Louis Harbeck. Memorials may be made to The Children’s Park of Tyler or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. An online guestbook can be signed at www.hawthornfuneralhome.com