Our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and highly respected, lifelong “differencemaker” in the Lebanon community, Dr. Tom F. Luthy, Jr., passed away Monday, June 1, in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on the family farm on April 9, 1939, in Lebanon, Missouri, the first son born to proud parents Thomas Francis Luthy, Sr. and Donnie Lois Dampier Luthy.

He began his education at Ivey, a two-room country school. As an eager student, he always had a book in hand. It was during his youth, through the witness of the Reverend J.L. Stone and Emmanuel Chapel, that Tom gave his life to Christ, whom he served faithfully throughout his years.

In his early adult life, he led a life-changing youth program at Emmanuel Chapel for many years. He continued to lead and teach throughout his life at both Emmanuel Chapel and, later, First Baptist Church.

After graduating from Lebanon High School, he entered Southwest Missouri State College and began his teaching career in 1958 as a 19-year-old college student at Blackfoot School in rural Laclede County. He then went on to teach in the 5th–8th grade room at Bolles for two years. He received his teaching degree from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1961 and began teaching history at Lebanon High School.

In 1963, he took a position at the newly built Glendale High School in Springfield. However, after just one year there, Lebanon schools sought to bring him back; Tom returned to Lebanon as the school district’s first-ever department chair in charge of the social studies program.

He received his Master’s Degree in Education in 1968 from Drury College and continued to teach history at LHS. He became well-known and highly respected for his ability to motivate students to learn, challenging them to achieve their full potential. To this day, former students speak with great pride about getting on “Luthy’s Board,” which recognized the top ten history students in his classes. It was during this time that he created a higher-level learning course known as the “American Heritage” class, preparing students for college long before “college prep” classes became the norm.

He took a short leave from teaching in 1969 when he was selected as an ambassador by Rotary International to represent them on a 10-week tour of several countries, including Australia. He immediately returned to his LHS classroom upon his arrival home.

Elected President of the Southwest Missouri Teachers Association in 1972, Tom always loved to talk about a highlight of that experience: bringing Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, to the SWMTA fall meetings in Springfield, Missouri, to speak to nearly 5,000 educators.

When the high school moved to its present location in 1976, Tom stayed on as the assistant principal of Lebanon Junior High. He became the LJHS principal in 1978 and spent the next 17 years guiding the lives of the young people who attended his school while setting a standard of excellence for his staff. He was awarded a Doctorate of Education from the University of Missouri in 1982—a well-earned achievement and honor that officially made him Dr. Tom Luthy, Jr.

Moving into district administration, he became the assistant superintendent for personnel and instruction for Lebanon R–III Schools. He took great care in selecting the “best of the best” to teach in the district. By the end of his tenure as assistant superintendent, Tom had hired more teachers than were currently on the entire district’s teaching staff. He also guided the district through its highly successful review under the Missouri School Improvement Plan in 1998.

At the time of his retirement from the Lebanon R-III Public Schools, he had served the district for an amazing 47 years. Even after retiring, he continued his lifelong passion for education by serving on the Statewide Goals 2000 Project, where he helped develop a new physical education model for Missouri.

As so many of his students and staff members have shared, Tom Luthy’s passion for and dedication to excellence in education made a monumental difference in the lives of students and teachers—an impact that is still felt today.

He never truly retired from teaching, as he continued to use his skills to lead overflowing Sunday School classes and teach at the Lebanon campus of Drury University.

In 2014, Tom was selected to receive the highest honor given by his community, as he was named to the Lebanon Wall of Honor, a distinction awarded to individuals whose lifetime achievements have made a lasting impact on Lebanon and Laclede County.

In addition to all his community endeavors, Tom enjoyed watching (and complaining about) the St. Louis Cardinals; gardening – he especially loved his roses and was a master at raising maidenhair ferns; raising cattle; and spending time with his family who he loved beyond measure. He will be greatly missed but the love and lessons taught will be his legacy that lives on in all of us.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Judy Luthy; his son, Tom Luthy, III and wife Siu Ping; his daughters, Lisa Anthony, and Amy Carr and husband Jim; and his grandchildren, Alec, Reid, Grayson, Parker, Haleigh, Maddie, and Clare; a brother, Charley Luthy; and three sisters, Pat Maxey; Judy Slaughter, and husband Mike; Nancy Wiser; Becky Reid, and husband Rod; and many nieces and nephews along with countless friends.

To celebrate the life and lasting impact of Dr. Tom F. Luthy, Jr. the family has established a Memorial Scholarship fund in his name.

Contributions may be left at the Greenlawn Funeral Home North or mailed to:

Dr. Tom F. Luthy, Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund

Greenlawn Funeral Home North

3506 North National

Springfield, MO 65803

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