Luther Edward Maynard Jr.

When Luther Edward Maynard Jr. walked into the room, those in his company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Luther was and how he impacted those around him. Luther was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Luther wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Luther was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.

       He was the son of Luther Edward, Sr. and Geraldine. Luther was raised in Lutz, Florida. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Luther might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Luther was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.

      Luther was raised with two siblings. He had two brothers, Greg and Les. Luther was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Luther was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Luther well in his adult life and, along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew him.

      As a young boy, Luther was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Luther was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Luther took part in baseball and football. He was a Boy Scout. In his spare time he liked fishing. Luther's memorable achievements included at the age of 10 he was bitten by a water moccasin and lived. He made the local newspaper. Luther had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover.

      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought him an endless stream of friends, Luther was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Luther was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. He always seemed aware of what was going on with people around him and throughout his life he made many, many friends. Later in life, he became friends with a cold beer and his coon gun. He was the best of friends to everyone he met!

      On February 28, 1970 Luther married Ikuko Kanazawa at South Camp Drake Chapel of Tokyo, Japan. Luther's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in his ability to make his new family happy. He was quite sensitive towards Ikuko's needs, showing his constant concern and fondness. Luther was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served him well in helping to nurture his family.

      Luther was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide his family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Luther, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of his life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Maynard home. Luther's skill at understanding his children's feelings, his sensitivity to their needs, and his gift for gentle persuasion enabled him to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Luther was blessed with two children: two sons, Ed III and Jon. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Chris, Bijan, Koi and Kaylee.

      Luther was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was a correctional officer. He was employed for 20 years with the State of Washington. Luther was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. Luther had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. Luther's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.

      Luther was an Army Veteran of over 21 years. He was stationed in Vietnam, Thailand for a year, Japan for two years, San Francisco at Letterman Army Medical Center for 8 years, Stuttgart, Germany for four years, and his last post was Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis for about 6 years. Luther saw action for several years as an Army Medic during the Vietnam Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class, E-7. He received several awards including a National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oakleaf), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Expert Rifle Qualification Badge, Bronze German Army Marksmanship Badge, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. His fellow soldiers could count on him for being able to make adjustments to any situation as needed.

      Luther derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. Luther was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, especially the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49'ers.

      Luther was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a Seventh Day Adventist for 66 years. He was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and he used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for his beliefs.

      When Luther's retirement finally came in September 30, 2009, Luther handled it the way he usually did. He adapted and, like everything in his life, made it satisfying. Because he was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Luther to master. His new life involved relocating to Lacey, Washington. Even in retirement, Luther continued to stay in touch with his old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.

      Luther Maynard passed away on January 7, 2013 at St. Peter's Hospital in Lacey, Washington. He fought a brave battle against Septic Shock brought on by a severe case of Diverticulitis. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Ikuko Kana; his two sons Ed and Jon; his four grandchildren Chris, Bijan, Koi and Kaylee; and his two brothers Les and Greg. Services were held at Mills & Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater, Washington.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Luther. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Luther Maynard for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Luther was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones.