David (Dave) Russell Wuertzer, D.P.M., passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025, at the age of 81 at River Landing in Colfax, North Carolina. Born January 8, 1944, in Jamestown, New York, Dave was a dearly loved husband, father, uncle, and friend. He will be remembered as a gentle man with a quick wit, deeply devoted to God, family, and country.
After graduating from Falconer High School, Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Allegheny College, where he met his future wife, Virginia (Ginny) Judd. He went on to complete a master’s degree in counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania before pursuing a medical career at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine (Temple University), graduating with honors.
Dave practiced podiatry for 34 years in Alabama, Alaska, and Pennsylvania. In Alabama, he served as Vice-President of the Alabama Podiatry Association and was appointed by the governor to the Alabama State Board of Podiatry.
During the Vietnam War, Dave was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He served at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., with the USAF Honor Guard at official ceremonies, including those at the White House and Arlington National Cemetery. He later served as a training officer at Lackland AFB and as the first podiatrist at the Elmendorf AFB hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.
Dave and Ginny shared 58 years of marriage and lived in seven states. They settled in Dothan, Alabama, where Dave founded The Southeast Alabama Foot Clinic. He was also a Charter Member of Covenant Methodist Church, where he played a vital role in its founding and served in leadership over the years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sunday School Superintendent, and Youth Coordinator. He was active in the community, serving on the boards of the Dothan Country Club and the local chapter of the American Diabetic Association, and was a longtime Rotarian.
A gifted athlete, Dave competed in four sports in high school and played baseball and basketball in college. He coached his son, Scott, in youth leagues and shared with him a lifelong love of golf. Together they played courses across the country and attended professional tournaments, including the Masters, the PGA, and the U.S. Open. Dave continued playing golf into his 80s, proud of his two holes-in-one and of having shot his age countless times.
In retirement, Dave and Ginny moved to a lakeside home in North Carolina near their son, where Dave added boating to his list of hobbies and stayed active until the final months of his life.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Coletta Wuertzer, and his brother, Richard Wuertzer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ginny; his son, Scott David Wuertzer; his nephew, Russell (Lynn) Wuertzer; and his niece, Jodelle (William) Magner.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th, in the Healthcare Multipurpose Room at River Landing, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Care Ministry, Covenant Methodist Church, 3610 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama 36305.
