Lon Luttrell

Lonnie Calvin Luttrell, 79, of Mountain Home, died of natural causes Jan. 17, 2009, at a local nursing home.

A celebration of Lon's life, and military honors by Mountain Home Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m. Services will be officiated by the Rt. Rev. Brian Thom, Bishop of Idaho, and Rev. P.A. Bergh. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Idaho Veteran's Cemetery in Boise.

Lon was born Nov. 10, 1928, to Ollie and Bessie Luttrell in Borger, Texas. He graduated from Corpus Christie High School.

After graduating from high school Lon worked as a draftsman and an oil rigger prior to joining the military in July of 1950.

Lon married Lois Ann Jaeschke on Feb. 16, 1952, in Tucson, Ariz. "He was married to Lois for 56 wonderful years," his family noted.

He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as a helicopter pilot, serving in numerous locations, including Greenland, Labrador, Korea, Africa, the Azores and many locations in the United States including his last station in Mountain Home. He delivered the first helicopters to Mountain Home AFB in June of 1968. He retired as commander of the Mountain Home AFB Rescue Unit at the rank of major.

While he was in the USAF, Lon completed his Bachelors of Arts degree at San Francisco State College.

After his retirement Lonnie completed the courses to achieve Deaconship under the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. At that point Lon served as a chaplain at St. Lukes Regional Medical Center, the Elks Rehabilitation Hospital and Cedar Crest Retirement Center.

During his retirement years he was a licensed realtor, developer, builder, teacher and farmer.

In addition to his many post retirement ventures, he served as a deacon for the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho throughout the state.

"Lon loved his family, his congregation, his community, and his time spent in the Elmore County Ministerial Association. God came first in Lon's life and dad spent his life loving to serve other peoples needs above his own," his family said.

Lon is survived by: his wife, Lois; his sons, Dan and his wife, Kathy, and Michael and his wife, Pat, of Boise, three grandsons, one great grandchild, six nieces and three nephews.

Lon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Raymond Luttrell, his sisters, Audrey Biggers and Virginia Gore, and granddaughter Jennifer Luttrell.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mountain Home Memorial Hospital, Horizon Home Health Hospice and St. James Episcopal Church.