George and Nita Lutes

1928 - 2020

George and Nita Lutes

2020

Juanita Chambless Lutes passed away December 11, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 91. Her husband of 42 years, George Franklin Lutes, Jr., passed away five days later on December 16, at age 83.

Nita was born on December 26, 1928, in Waco, to Annie Marie Turner Chambless and Tom Carter Chambless. Her parents; brother, Beauford "Bun" Chambless; and sister, Caroline Chambless Washington, preceded her in death.

After a year at Baylor, Nita worked in Temple before moving to southern California to work at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She retired as a top-level executive assistant to JPL's Telecommunications Division Director.

In 1976, Nita met George Lutes, a space engineer at JPL; they married on June 23, 1978, in Carmel. Together they worked a combined 76 years for America's Space Program. Nita and George also loved to travel, golf, and share time with friends and family.

****

George Franklin Lutes, Jr., was born on April 3, 1937, in Williams, California, to Ardis Powers and George Franklin Lutes, Sr.; he grew up in nearby Yuba City. George was preceded in death by his wife, Nita Chambless Lutes; his parents; and his two sons, Danny R. Lutes and Stephen G. Lutes. He is survived by his sisters, Rosalie Klidies, Waco, and JoLinda Martin, Yuba City.

George moved to southern California to pursue work in the emerging aerospace industry. He earned a two-year degree in electronic engineering and was hired by JPL in 1964. Over his 40-year career, George became JPL's "resident expert" in fiber optic communication used in the international Deep Space Network.

George was a 20-year member of the La Canada Chapter of Kiwanis. He and Nita were active members of La Canada Presbyterian Church, La Canada, California. They were also active participants in the church's Seafarers and George served as an Elder; they loved their church.

Aunt Nita and Uncle George are survived by many nieces and nephews: Tim Chambless (Cathy), Salt Lake City; Judy (Jon) Salmon, Nashville; Kay (David) Moore, Austin; Cheryl Chambless, Waco; Terry (Sherry) Chambless, Round Rock, Texas; Bonnie Chambless Galt Sinclair, Georgetown, Texas; and Grant Chambless, Texas.

Nita and George Lutes will be buried in a family plot in Bosqueville Cemetery.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.