Leland James Lutz

Redlands, CA - Leland J. Lutz, 95, formerly of Orono, died peacefully March 23, 2019 at The Plymouth Nursing facility in Redlands, CA. He was born in Tamaqua, PA on July 3, 1923, the son of James A. and Helen (Miller) Lutz. He graduated from Tamaqua HS in 1941, graduated from Penn State University in Chemical Engineering in 1944, worked for Goodyear Tire in the lab during the war, met and married Bettymae Gyger (deceased) in 1946 in her home town of Ottawa, IL. He received his Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University in 1951. He had three children, James J. of Bangor, ME (1947), Karen L. Benbrook of Enterprise, OR (1951) and John F. of Paris, France (1958). He was a member of many groups and organizations affiliated with his work at Goodyear, Olin- Matheson, FMC Corp. and John Brown, Ltd., London. He and Bettymae lived in Ohio, New York,Maine, New Jersey, Alabama,Arizona, Maryland, Texas, Connecticut, Arizona and California and overseas in The Hague, Netherlands. He retired in 1983 and moved to Orono, ME. He traveled all over the World both for business and pleasure visiting every Continent except Antarctica. He was a member of the Orono Kiwanis and The Sons of The American Revolution. In the last ten years, he found a new life in California with Carol Burgess and spent time traveling, playing Bridge, working in the community theater, and making many more friends. He enjoyed the Family Camp in Lowell, ME and loved fishing and boating where ever he lived. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Charles Benbrook, and Eric Tolbert as well as 7 Grandchildren, James Devon Lutz and his wife Elaine of Plymouth, MA; John Darren Lutz of Plymouth, MA; Rebecca Ruth Lutz and her partner Amber Morin of Glenburn, ME; Seth Lutz Ellis of Riggins, ID and Ninilchik, AK; Zacary Lutz Ellis and his wife Jennifer of Homer, AK; Erin Constance Lutz and her husband Tim Epley of Lake Elsinore, CA; Alexander Lutz and his wife Jennifer of Vienna, Virginia, expecting a boy in July; four Great Grandchildren, Molly Grace Lutz (12), Abigail Mae Lutz (10), and Jillian Patricia Lutz (8) all of Plymouth, MA; and Bodhi Epley (8 mos) of Lake Elsinore, CA. Lee enjoyed good health right up to the end of his life. A private celebration of his life was held at the Redlands Country Club on March 29th with family and friends. His was a “Life well led” and his influence on his friends and family will live on.