Robert Lewis Luttrell

Robert Lewis "Bob" Luttrell, age 100, passed away on December 14, 2025.
Bob grew up in Fountain City, graduated from Smithwood Grammar and old Central High (now Gresham Middle School), class of 1943. He played clarinet for 4 years in the C.H.S. band (where he met his first wife, Adelene, who was in the Alumni Band and played the clarinet).
He was a WWII Navy Veteran and joined the Navy immediately after high school graduation and served for 3 years, 1943-1946. Bob saw 18 months of action in the Pacific, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan. One of his duties was to serve as a Fire Control Petty Officer on the gunboat USS PGM 18; he was to fire upon the mines that surfaced after the mine sweepers cut the cables. He survived the sinking of PCM-18 after his ship struck an un-cut mine. After surviving, he and his crew were sent back to the U.S. for a 30-day survivor leave on the ship, U.S.S. Henrico APA 45, but not before being hit by a Japanese Kamikaze attack. He later served on the ship U.S.S. Oracle AM 103 where they swept mines off the China Coast in the Formosa Straight.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bob attended the University of Tennessee for 3 years studying to be an electrical engineer. After dropping out of UT, he entered the field of Advertising by securing a job with The Knoxville Journal, where he became an Account Executive with the advertising department. There he worked for 2 years before moving up to the same position with the Knoxville News Sentinel. He remained at the N.S. for 40 years before retiring in 1990.
Bob was also a graduate of the Art Instruction School of Minneapolis, Minnesota. His abilities as an artist served him well in the field of Advertising layouts and sales. He loved to paint with oils on canvas and did many portraits as well as a series of Biblical scene reproductive paintings.
Along the way, he had many hobbies and ambitions. For 22 years he taught a Jr. Sunday School class for 10-year-olds (which included his 3 sons) at Central Baptist Church of Fountain City. He stressed the importance of memorizing scripture verses, while using many creative, artistic, and fun methods. With his work at church, he helped fulfill a promise he had made to God while in the Navy. His prayer was if he could survive the fiery shark infested waters as his ship was sinking; he would be a useful servant in any way possible. He gave his testimony many times.
On occasional weekends during the late 1960's -1970's he was also the Ronald McDonald clown for the Litton-Cockran Family branch of McDonalds in Knoxville and parts of East TN. His ability to make kids laugh kept him going as "Ronald" for 18 years, which also included performing as Ronald McDonald for 3 years as the guest clown for the Ringling Brothers and Barnam Baily Circus and the Loretta Lynn Rodeo when they came to Knoxville.
He was a 10-year member and President of the Fountain City Sertoma Club. His group oversaw the upkeep and preservation of the Fountain City Lake during the late 1960's through 1970's. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Bright Hope Lodge, and Scottish Rite in Fountain City.
He loved working with stain glass as well as woodworking. He built and plumbed several additions to the home he lived in since 1952. He was also an accomplished red velvet cake baker. As a young boy, he loved to fish and hunt with his dad. As a young dad, he and Adelene taught life lessons, provided nourishment, essentials and loads of fun to their 3 young sons. The highlights being vacations to Florida, and holidays with family.
Family gatherings continued with his second wife, Joyce. They were members of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church. They loved to travel and rock hunt. Family also played an important part with Bob's third wife, Dot. They loved to travel and shop together and take bus tours (which is where they met). They were members of Temple Baptist Church in Powell.
Bob is preceded in death by mother, Kittie Mae (Giddens) Luttrell; father, Walter Lewis Luttrell, first wife Winona Adelene (Hyatt) Luttrell (married in 1951 for 44 years, mother of Bob's three sons.) Second wife, Joyce (Hewins) Luttrell (married for 7 years) and his third wife, Dorothy (Dot) (Jones) Luttrell (married for 16 years).
He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Evelyn (Luttrell) and John Adams of Ashland, Virginia. Six Nieces and Nephews. Son and daughter-in-law, David Lewis Luttrell and Marge (Loughman) Luttrell of Knoxville; grandson, Dillon Patrick Luttrell of Knoxville; granddaughter, Keegan Leigh Luttrell of Berlin, Germany; grandson Griffin David Luttrell of Los Angeles, California; son and daughter-in-law, Steve Allen Luttrell and Lois Rosanna Luttrell of Knoxville; granddaughter and son in-law Heather Marie (Luttrell) and Noah Thomas Schaefferkoetter, great granddaughters Mila Juliet Schaefferkoetter and Etta Lucia Schaefferkoetter of Knoxville; Grandson and granddaughter-in-law Walter Travis Gideon and Karen Michelle Luttrell, great grandson, Hunter Gideon Luttrell of Corryton; son, Robert William Luttrell of Knoxville.
Bob was dearly loved by his family and friends and will be missed. Many loving thanks and appreciation to Jefferson City Health and Rehabilitation Center and the hospice nurses and staff. During his transition they worked tirelessly in making him comfortable in his last days and assisting in his needs. Also, thanks to the Knoxville Senior Helper's staff, who were his companions and compassionate care givers at his home during his decline in health. Thanks for all his friends and neighbors and family who showed kindness to him until his death.
In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to Temple Baptist Church and Crown College, Powell.
A visitation will be held 11am-12pm Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel with a service to follow at 12:00pm. A graveside service will be the same day, 3pm at Lynnhurst Cemetery.
Gentry-Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Luttrell family and invites you to sign the online registry at www.gentry-griffey.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert, please visit our floral store.