Obituary for Garry Dean Lutz
Garry Dean Lutz left November 16 to be with his lord while the love of his life, Carol, was by his side. He was born in Nebraska and a few days after he graduated from Hastings High School, he was on a train to Navy boot camp.
He spent almost 30 years of his life serving in the Navy. His distinguished career began with recruit training in San Diego in 1958, and then went to work on the old AD6-7 Skyraider with the VA-145 Swordsmen.
He completed two Far East cruises aboard the USS Oriskany before joining the VA-115 Arabs in three combat cruises in Southeast Asia aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. There he assisted in the shelling of Quemoy and Matsu Island, mining of Hyphong Harbor and was selected for a specials weapon for President John F. Kennedy. From 1964 to 1968, he returned to San Diego as Company commander at a time when it was unpopular to be in the service. Returning to the operational Navy in 1968 as a P-3A aircrewman assigned to VP-8, based Patuxent River, MD. Then it was back to recruit training, this time at Great Lakes. While there he was awarded RTC Distinguished Leadership Award for 1975 and was promoted to chief petty officer.
He was selected to be plank owner of the USS Nimitz, homeported to Norfolk where he served as CPO in charge of the bomb assembly crew. Next, he was assigned to VP-44 in Brunswick where he became chief warrant officer. In 1978, he became the squadron gunner for VA-165 here at Whidbey and has lived here ever since. Three years later, he took over as assistant weapons officer of NAS Whidbey Island and was promoted to CW04. From 1983 to January 1987 he was VA-95's ordnance officer embarking aboard USS Enterprise for the Suez Canal transit in 1986 before transferring to the Medium Attack Weapons School.
He retired from the Navy after having served in 10 pay grades over 29 continuous years. It is no small wonder that his protégés call him the "Legend". He retired as a CW04 Weapons Officer in July 1987. He and Carol loved to travel and even opened an Antique Shop (Antique World) at one time in Oak Harbor.
He is survived by his wife Carol of 35 years and 5 children, three sons Timothy Lutz, Theodore Lutz and stepson Kelly Campbell. He also leaves behind two daughters. He had many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As requested, there will not be a funeral service. He will be interred at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville at a later date.
He spent almost 30 years of his life serving in the Navy. His distinguished career began with recruit training in San Diego in 1958, and then went to work on the old AD6-7 Skyraider with the VA-145 Swordsmen.
He completed two Far East cruises aboard the USS Oriskany before joining the VA-115 Arabs in three combat cruises in Southeast Asia aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. There he assisted in the shelling of Quemoy and Matsu Island, mining of Hyphong Harbor and was selected for a specials weapon for President John F. Kennedy. From 1964 to 1968, he returned to San Diego as Company commander at a time when it was unpopular to be in the service. Returning to the operational Navy in 1968 as a P-3A aircrewman assigned to VP-8, based Patuxent River, MD. Then it was back to recruit training, this time at Great Lakes. While there he was awarded RTC Distinguished Leadership Award for 1975 and was promoted to chief petty officer.
He was selected to be plank owner of the USS Nimitz, homeported to Norfolk where he served as CPO in charge of the bomb assembly crew. Next, he was assigned to VP-44 in Brunswick where he became chief warrant officer. In 1978, he became the squadron gunner for VA-165 here at Whidbey and has lived here ever since. Three years later, he took over as assistant weapons officer of NAS Whidbey Island and was promoted to CW04. From 1983 to January 1987 he was VA-95's ordnance officer embarking aboard USS Enterprise for the Suez Canal transit in 1986 before transferring to the Medium Attack Weapons School.
He retired from the Navy after having served in 10 pay grades over 29 continuous years. It is no small wonder that his protégés call him the "Legend". He retired as a CW04 Weapons Officer in July 1987. He and Carol loved to travel and even opened an Antique Shop (Antique World) at one time in Oak Harbor.
He is survived by his wife Carol of 35 years and 5 children, three sons Timothy Lutz, Theodore Lutz and stepson Kelly Campbell. He also leaves behind two daughters. He had many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As requested, there will not be a funeral service. He will be interred at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville at a later date.