Colonel Joseph H. Luten, Sr., USMCR (Ret)

Colonel Joseph H. Luten, Sr., USMCR (Ret), age 83, passed away March 15, 2012. He was born in Sarasota, Florida on February 13, 1929 to his parents, John Edward Luten and Josephine Helton Luten, who moved the family back to Quincy, FL where Joe grew up with his 3 brothers, J.E., William and Arthur. Joe graduated from Gadsden County High School in 1947, and then joined the United States Marine Corps. Joe received a Bachelors degree from Livingston State College in Alabama, where he played middle linebacker for the football team. His college friends referred to him as being “rough, tough and hard to bluff” and nicknamed him “The Boogie Man” for his love of music and dance, especially the Jitterbug. Joe also attended graduate school at Florida State University.

In 1958, Joe settled down in Jacksonville, Florida where he became a teacher at Ribault High School and coached track and football. It was during this time that Joe met the love of his life, June Lassiter Luten, deceased, of Havana, Florida, also a teacher. Their relationship began when friends recommended they drive back to Northwest Florida together to their hometowns which were only 15 miles apart. They were married in November, 1959 and raised three children together.

Joe began his 47 year career as a State Farm Insurance Agent in 1962. He worked loyally for the company until his retirement on July 31, 2010. Special recognition and gratitude to Joe’s Office Manager, Robin Lewis, who kept Joe and his office highly organized for nearly 30 years. After his retirement, Joe continued to go to the office everyday to be with his family who opened a new insurance agency at his Blanding Boulevard office.

Joe retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Colonel after 36 years of faithful service. He was the Commanding Officer of Company B, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, where he was very involved in recruitment and The for Toys for Tots campaign.

Joe was a devoted husband and father who always put his family above all else. He loved spending time with his friends, the outdoors, his Brittany Spaniel dogs, was an avid hunter and fisherman , and loved Florida State University Football. Survivors include his son Joey Luten (Angie Ricks), 3 daughters, Lee Luten Harris, Janie Luten Stiehl (Mark) and Julie Luten Schilbrack (Scott), 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 19th at Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2051 Park Ave. Orange Park, at 11:00 AM with Rev. Pearl Boles officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday at HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERMEAD FUNERAL HOME, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park FL 32073 from 3 to 5 PM. Interment will be at Eastern Cemetery, Quincy, Florida at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 20th. In lieu of flowers memorials made be made in Joe’s name to the Florida State Football Scholarship Fund, or Wounded Warriors. Post tributes at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com