Sgt. Noah J. Katz, 26, of Crownsville

»Information from the Hardesty Funeral Home website.

Sgt. Noah J. Katz, 26, passed away on June 8, 2015, while serving his country in Germany. Noah was the beloved husband of Ashley Katz, of Crownsville; the cherished son of Larry and Debra McGhee of Crownsville, and fond brother of Ian.

Noah was born on September 17, 1988, in Washington DC, to Harvey Mayer Katz and Debra McGhee (then Debra Richter-Katz). He spent the first six years of his life in and around Washington, particularly in the Capital Hill area. He accompanied his father to dinners at the Monocle Restaurant on Capitol Hill, and was well-known to everyone there from the coat-check clerk to the maitre d’. Before he was old enough for school, Noah attended a daycare center in the federal office building where his mother worked, often playing quietly in her office when she needed to stay late. He was a friendly and cheerful child.

Noah’s mother married Larry McGhee when Noah was six and spent many happy years living in Herald Harbor. Noah and Larry were active in Cub Scouts and enjoyed camping together. His brother Ian was born in 1999 and Noah was a great help to his mother during the first months of Ian’s life. Noah enjoyed interacting with his brother and they grew to share favorite video games and movies.

Noah attended Old Mill High where he learned to race sailboats, wrote for the High School paper, and founded the school’s first film-making club. Noah was confirmed by Epiphany Episcopal Church in Odenton. He spent three years at Towson University, where he studied film-making and business.

Noah entered the U.S. Army in September 2009 and completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and All Source Analyst Military Occupational Skills Training at Fort Huachuca, AZ. His military schools included Warrior Leader Course. His assignments include Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea; U.S. Army Cyber Brigade, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland; and U.S. Army Element Headquarters European Command, Vaihingen, Germany.

His military awards included Army Commendation Medals (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medals (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Noah was married to Ashley Katz, of Pasadena Maryland, in 2012. Together they planned a unique and beautiful outdoor ceremony. After exchanging their vows, Noah donned a fedora and swept Ashley up the aisle to the theme from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The couple resided in Odenton until Noah was transferred to Stuttgart.

Noah was preceded in death by his father, attorney and author, Harvey Mayer Katz. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his grandparents, Edwin and Joyce Richter, of Bradenton, FL, and Shizuko Orii McGhee of Forest Hills, MD.

A viewing will be held at Hardesty’s Funeral Home, 851 Annapolis Road in Gambrills, from 7 until 9 pm on June 18. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on June 19, at the Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church, 921 Generals Highway in Millersville, with a repast to follow.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make donations in Noah’s name to The Wounded Warriors Project.