Earl Austin Luton

Earl Austin Luton
Elizabeth City - Earl Austin Luton, 91, formerly of 1770 Nixonton Road, Elizabeth City, died on Veterans Day, November 11, 2012 at the home of his son and daughter in law. A lifelong resident of Pasquotank County, he was the son of the late John Herbert Luton and Gladys Urso Keaton Luton and husband of Shirley Copeland Luton of the home. A retired farmer, he tilled the soil for fifty-seven years and was an avid gardener since he was eight years old. Mr. Luton was a graduate of Weeksville High School where he was valedictorian and he attended Riverside Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife of sixty-six years, he is survived by his daughter, Myra Luton Coghill and husband, Dennis of Richmond, VA; a son, Kent Austin Luton and wife, Peggy of Elizabeth City; grandsons Austin Kirk Luton of Raleigh, NC and Adam Luton Coghill of Richmond, VA; step grandsons Kevin and Christopher Brown of Elizabeth City; step great grandchildren Ayden, Caitlyn, Noah, Joshua and Cayleigh; three sisters, Martha Luton Lingard of Salt Lake City, UT; Ann Luton Barrow and husband, Royce of Wilmington and Mattie Marie Meads of Elizabeth City; sister in law Evelyn Luton of Elizabeth City and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Luton was predeceased by brothers, Relfe Luton and John Elwood Luton; sisters, Thelma Luton Sanders James and Gladys Luton Ferrell and infant sister Gladys Elaine Luton.

Mr. Luton was a combat veteran of World War II in the Army's First Armored Division. He participated in all the Italian campaigns, except Sicily, as follows: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, the Anzio beachhead, North Appenines and Po Valley. He was a gunner on an anti-tank gun until the liberation of Rome on June 4, 1944, and from then until the end of the was he was the "bog" or bow gunner in a medium tank, later referred to as a Sherman Tank.

Mr. Luton was a charter member of the Weeksville Lions Club, which was organized in February, 1951, and served as secretary for the first twenty years. He was a member of Eureka Masonic Lodge #317 and served as Master in 1974 and the next twenty-four years as treasurer. He was also a member of the Elizabeth City York Rite Bodies with the title of KYCH, the Scottish Rite of New Bern, the Sudan Shrine of New Bern, the American Legion, the 1st Armored Division Association and was a life member of the American Cribbage Congress.

Funeral services will be held at Twiford Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 2 p. m. with the Rev. Dr. John Luton and the Rev. Larry Privott officiating. A private burial will follow. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Twiford's Memorial Chapel and at other times at the residence of Kent and Peggy Luton, 104 Ashton Avenue, Elizabeth City, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Weeksville Lions Club, c/o Bill Trueblood, 1105 Lula Meads Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is assisting the Luton family. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.twifordfh.com.