James Alan Lutz

Jim Lutz was born in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, to Mary Elizabeth and Ralph Fasnacht Lutz.  Raised in Denver, PA, Jim graduated from Cocalico Senior High School and the University of PA, Millersville. He also studied at George Washington University and the University of Maryland, College Park. 

A respected business leader, Jim worked with the US Navy from 1970 until 1975, then began a 30+ year career with Synergy, Inc., working on logistics solutions for the US Air Force. Synergy was acquired by ICF and Jim retired from ICF in 2009. 

While working at Synergy, Jim’s life changed when he met and married his beloved wife, Nann, in 1978. As Jim so lovingly put it, Nann was his “package deal” because he was also vowing to love and cherish her two young boys, Chris and Jamie Keaton. Mark, Joe, and Katie Lutz completed their family. Jim coached soccer, sang in the church choir, was a Presbyterian Elder for 20+ years, served on the Green Acres Pool Board, chauffeured  travel-hockey tournaments, chaperoned cheerleader and Girl Scout events, enjoyed attending the theatre, and fly fished around the USA and in Argentina with friends and family. These were cherished years for Jim. 

Always ready for a new adventure, Jim and Nann bought property in West Virginia in 2006, building a log cabin on their 25-acre lot in 2016. In 2020, they moved there full time and spent a charmed two years together - grateful for every

blessing.  It was a happy time for both of them. Eager to make new friends, Jim was elected to the Property Owners Association Board. He loved attending local gatherings, hosting friends and family most weekends, and attending craft fairs, festivals, musical events, and nearby Cumberland’s Live Theatre.  

Jim saw goodness and hope in new friends and old. He consciously considered his Facebook posts as an opportunity to amuse, encourage, and entertain his nearly 700 Facebook friends. He would be touched to know so many of these friends appreciated his humor and have reached out to the family.  

Jim leaves behind his devoted wife, Helen Nann Lutz; children, Chris Keaton, Mark Lutz (engaged to Ashley Rabe), Joe and Giaci Lutz, Katie and Dan Coogan, and his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Andrew Richman, Avery and Ella Keaton, Jackson Landers, Daly and Wyatt Maerten, and Annie and Mickey Coogan. His last wish was to see or talk to his precious grandchildren, which was granted to him. Jim adored his family, including many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and many friends whom he considered family.

Jim was greeted in Heaven by parents Ralph and Betty Lutz, in- laws Bill and Ann Brown, mother-in-law Zelda Rubinstein, sister-in-law Frances Heiney, son Jamie Keaton, and his brother, John Robert Lutz.  

The celebration of Jim’s well-lived life will be on March 4th at Grace Presbyterian Church – Lanham at 2 p.m.  Instead of sending flowers the family asks you to, please, send a donation to the Coddington family. Here is their story:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-the-coddington-family   Jim also loved attending Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia.  If you prefer, send a donation, in Jim’s name, to sigtheatre.org