DR. JOHN R. KLUTTZ
Sept. 9, 1929-March 21, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE -- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dr. John Robert Kluttz, of Andover Road, died Friday, March 21, 2008, at the N.C. State Veterans Nursing Home.
"Dr. John" was born in Goldsboro, N.C. Born prematurely to the late John Arthur and Bessy Cotton Kluttz, he overcame 100 to one odds to survive as Goldsboro's first incubator baby. Dr. John achieved the honor of Eagle Scout. He was accepted into East Carolina University where he was involved with sports, ROTC and was senior class president. While at ECU, he met and married the love of his life, Jeanine. He was then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and continued his education. He proudly served 20 years in the Air Force, obtained his Ph.D. from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and went on to dedicate himself to veterans as a therapist with the Veterans Administration Center's Re-adjustment Counseling Ser-vice in Fayetteville. He lived the life of a true Christian through his actions and words, and touched the lives of so many people. Above all, he was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Kluttz; his sister, Jean Morelock; as well as his true love, wife of 48 years, Jeanine Ennis Kluttz.
Dr. John is survived by his sons, John Robert Kluttz Jr. and wife, Laura, of Parker, Colo., Terry Lee Kluttz and wife, Cynthia, of Wilmington, N.C.; two grandsons, Zack and Tyler of Parker, Colo.; one granddaughter, Kirby, of Wilmington, N.C.; and numerous extended family and special friends.
It could be said that Dr. John never knew a stranger and could light up the day with his "press on" attitude.
The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at Northwood Temple, 4250 Ramsey St., interment following at Lafayette Memorial Park.
The family would like to express their thanks to the very special staff of the VA Nursing Home for their loving care, as well as to those at United Hospice who, so briefly, helped us all.
Dr. John's granddaughter sums him up, and echoes the sentiment of so many others by saying, "PaPa was one in a million."
Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 27, 2008 2:15 PM