James Larry Lutz

james lutz
James Larry Lutz of Tucker, GA went on to receive his eternal reward on Thursday August 15th. Fondly remembered as Larry “The Legend” Lutz, he was preceded in death by his parents, John Boyd Lutz and Edith Margie Harrison Lutz. Larry was a true native of Atlanta, born on July 27th, 1948 at Crawford Long Hospital. Except for a few years in his youth when his family lived in Ft. Thomas, KY, he lived his entire life in the Atlanta area. After graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Management in 1970, Larry attended the prestigious McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago, receiving the Archie Award for Outstanding Achievement. He worked for McDonald’s helping restaurants transition from corporate owned to franchise owned. He soon decided that he was not built for the corporate world, and left to work at Dorsey Labs as a pharmaceutical sales rep. In 1977, through a series of coincidences, he wound up managing Lilburn Tire & Auto Service for a high school friend. Within a year he would be the owner, and continued as owner and manager for nearly 40 years when he sold the business to a long-time employee. He remained as a part-time employee until early 2019. Larry was known for being a fair, honest, and giving business owner which endeared him to customers from all walks of life. He decorated the walls of his tire shop with pictures from his excursions all over the world. He was an avid scuba diver and was never one to shy away from a great adventure of any kind. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf and working in the yard, as well as serving First Baptist Church of Tucker as a Deacon, Church Moderator, Instructional Lead teacher for the Randolph Special Education Department, as well as serving on various other committees. Larry was beloved by his family who will dearly miss his jolly demeanor, quick wit, wisdom, and unparalleled story-telling ability. He was quick with a laugh and seemed to always have a turn-of-phrase on hand to sum up a situation. He was aptly described by a close friend as “...solid as a rock, but the gentlest rock you ever met.” He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Gail Blalock Lutz, brother; William Ronald Lutz (Mary Beth) of Eatonton, GA, two sons; James Larry Lutz Jr. (Mary Helen) of Atlanta, GA and Terry Michael Lutz (Courtney) of Peachtree Corners, GA, three grand-children; Addison Colleen Lutz and Tinsley Elizabeth Lutz (daughters of Jay and Mary Helen) and William Conrad Lutz ( son of Terry and Courtney), niece, Caitlin Elizabeth Lutz, as well as mother-in-law Bonnie Dillard of Flowery Branch, GA and brothers-in-law Reid Blalock of Flowery Branch, GA and Dennis Blalock (Docia) of Winslow, AZ in addition to many dear extended family members and friends. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 24th at 2 pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Tucker. The family will receive visitors in the Gathering Room in the hour preceding. A reception will be held after the service in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to the Randolph Special Education Department of First Baptist Church of Tucker or to The Developmental Disabilities Ministry LEEP Fund at 6320 Amherst Court, Norcross, GA 30092.

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  1. You all are in our prayers during this time. May God’s peace and strength embrace each of you.

  2. We have fond memories of our times together. We will miss Larry. He was a very special man, and will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

  3. Gail – You and Larry were like second parents for me and Johnny when we were young, and Larry was truly a legend in our eyes and our hearts. He will be truly missed. Love to you and your whole family.
    Steven and Sazy Johnson

  4. Gail and family, Larry will always remain alive in the hearts of the many people whose lives he blessed. Ours are some of them. Our prayers are with all of you. We loved Larry, and will miss him dearly.

  5. Gail, I’m so sad to hear of Larry’s passing. He will surely be missed at church, but you know all of us are here for you. You and your family will be in my prayers in the months ahead. I consider it a happy coincidence that his service will be on Richie’s birthday. I love you!

  6. Gail and family: our love and appreciation for Larry for all he did in Christ name in our church. Much love to each of you. DillRd and Jeanette. So sorry to miss service. Out of town.

  7. Oh how we will miss our dear friend. Our hearts are broken for our lives were made richer for Larry’s presence.

  8. I thank God for blessing me with wonderful friends , Larry and Gail. I will miss Larry, and continue to thank God for his blessing me with such a friend.

  9. Gail, I will defiantly miss Larry and my “Coffee Angel”. He always had our coffee and a great smile and hug to go with it. He was a wonderful, caring friend. You and the family are in my thoughts and prayers.

  10. Gail, I will defiantly miss Larry. He was a wonderful caring person and a very good “Coffee Angel”, he came in with our coffee and donut holes always had a smile and a hug!!!! You and family are in my thought and prayers!!

  11. The Legend! I have known Larry most of my life and was blessed to have him in my life. He always had a smile and a joke.
    I spent countless hours at his house and his place of business, Larry even gave me my first job. The Lutz family will always have a special place in my heart, I love you all. Some of my fondest memories are with this family! God bless!

  12. Gail – I didn’t know Larry well, but I thought he was a “fantastic man”. I didn’t need to know him well because the
    fact that he was married to you was definitely good enough for me.
    He will be missed by many and may God Bless you and your family in this very difficult time!
    My heart goes out to you!

  13. It is with great sadness that we learned of Larrys’ passing. Our condolences go to Larrys’ family and many friends
    Larry had many unique qualities and virtues: he was kind, generous and thoughtful. He gave of his time and service to the “special needs community”.
    I admired his easy going spirit and his great sense of humor. I especially appreciated his friendship. He was a dear friend to me and my family.
    In the end, after along illness he is now safely at home in heaven.
    Rest easy old friend,

  14. It was with great sadness that we learned of Larrys’ passing. Our condolences go to Larrys’ family and .any friends.
    Larry had many unique qualities and virtues. He was kind and generous, thoughtful and caring to his many friends. I admired his easy going spirit and his great sense of humor. I especially appreciated his friendship. He was a dear friend to me and my family. In the end, after a long illness he is safely home at last in heaven. Rest in peace and know you will be missed dearly

  15. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of loss. We shall surely miss Larry’s smile and friendly greeting when he came to the church office to sign checks or for Men’s Bible Study. He was a special person to us and many others.

  16. Larry was a bright light, “a city on a hill.” He is greatly missed, as he was greatly loved.

  17. Phyllis Goodwin
    Gail and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. When I bought tires from him, he was always kind and fair with me. If you ever need someone to talk too, please call me, I will be glad to listen. Love you.

  18. Gail and family, You and your family are in my prayers and thoughts. Whenever I went to get tires from Larry, he and his employees were always very nice. The one thing I remember about Larry, he always had a smile on his face. If you ever need to talk, please call me..

  19. Our Condolences to the Lutz family. Jay, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayer. May your Dad (Larry) Rest In Peace
    .

  20. I just got the news today at the tire shop I am so sorry for your loss he was a good man he was always very nice to me when I took my car to have it serviced.

  21. You will be missed my old friend. I didn’t find out about your passing until yesterday. Many memories of you will live forever in my heart.

  22. Larry and I shared quite a few adventures over 56 years of ‘living and laughing at life’ since meeting in high school in 1963. All of these wonderful, loving thoughts expressed for him here paint a clear and accurate image of what a beautiful Soul .. he IS. For me, Larry was just .. always there. The guy was rock solid .. yet the most ‘gentle rock’ you could ever imagine. I will be forever grateful, humbled, and a better person for having been one of his many friends. And to that he would have remarked: “Ahhh, it’s all just part of being a ‘Legend’ ” . . . ‘funny’ as always, but there is one thing Larry never truly realized … He really IS a Legend !


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