Obituary

Luman passed into the presence of his Savior, not surprisingly, and yet unexpectedly, as he peacefully seemed to just stop breathing. He was born 92 years earlier in Monroeville, Indiana to Charles & Blanche Whittern as the third of six siblings. Luman attended and graduated from school in Hoagland, IN where he got to know Martha Ann Flora, who fell for his beautiful tenor voice.

Luman joined the Navy during WWII, and was the radio operator on a sea-going tug in the Atlantic. He also served on a mine sweeper in the Pacific. After discharge he married Martha Ann, and then earned a degree with honors in forestry at Purdue University. One job he had was managing the forest at Morgan Monroe State Forest. Among other places, they lived in Union Township, Huntington, IN where Luman was the Soil & Water Conservation Service Agent for 9 years. He finished his career as the manager of flood control reservoirs in southern IN for the US Army Corp of Engineers. They made their home in Bloomington IN for 48 years. Luman drew up the blueprints for the house they had built there. After retirement he and Martha Ann worked several years in a resort cafeteria at Disney World when they wintered in FL. Failing health took them to Bellingham, WA to be near family for their final months.

Luman is survived by his three children: June (& Tom) Cox, Ferndale, WA; Lois (& Ted) Brandenburg, Hendersonville, NC; & Lynn (&Cheryl) Whittern, Lacey, WA; grandsons: Josiah (&Heather) Cox, Ferndale, WA & Nathan Cox, Seattle; siblings: sister-in-law Helen Whittern; sister-in-law Alberta Whittern; sister Martha Minnich; brother Paul (&Deloris) Whittern, and sister Helen (& Verland) Loveland.

Luman was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ann, parents Charles & Blanche Whittern, and his older brothers Keith & Bob Whittern.

Luman is remembered for being a quiet, hard-working man. He had a subtle, dry sense of humor that endeared him especially to those who helped care for him in the last year and a half of his life. Luman’s faith in God and involvement at church, where he loved singing in the choir, were very important to him. Luman was an avid gardener, and many enjoyed the benefits of that skill. He and Martha Ann took up line dancing in FL and loved teaching it. Frugality was another one of his hallmarks.

Luman was a devoted and faithful husband. After work he would help Martha Ann in addition to doing other chores at home. In later years, as she was impacted by Alzheimers, he took care of her, even as he was recovering from a major stroke. A few years later after a major heart attack, he was willing to sacrifice his own health to take care of her. Upon reflection following Martha Ann’s death, which was 10 months ago and after 69 years of marriage, Luman said, “We had a good life.”

His children remember him teaching them to fish, and telling them to be quiet to keep from scaring the fish away. They also remember making and eating homemade ice cream with Dad. Another memory is going to a Christmas tree farm when young where Luman worked pruning the trees as far as their eyes could see. Luman started his own Christmas tree farm later, and they remember helping him plant and prune the trees. The grandchildren are so grateful for the time with him this past year, getting to know him as adults, enjoying his sense of humor, and hearing his memories.

A memorial service will be held in Bloomington, IN sometime in the fall. Interment will take place in Markle, IN.

A video of pictures of Luman can be viewed at wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com.
An open house will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the Lummi Veterans Hall on Kwina Road, from 4:30pm-8pm. This is an opportunity to meet June and Tom Cox and offer condolences.