Obituary: Luhn, Robert Richard

LUHN,
Robert Richard

Robert Richard Luhn was born on October 21, 1924 in Cairo, Nebraska, the eldest of five children of Richard Adam and Elva Marie (Melsen) Luhn.

He passed away at the Life Care Center of Lewiston, Idaho, on September 22, 2012 at the age of 87.
As a youngster of eight, Robert moved with his family to the south end of Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound of Washington.

There he attended school and graduated from Langley High School In 1942.

Joining the U. S. Navy, he was sent to the University of Kansas in 1943 before shipping out on an escort/weather ship , where he served as an ensign.
Following his tour of duty in the Pacific, he returned to college, graduating from Washington State University in 1947.

He married the love of his life, Coralyn E. Cook, on August 9, 1947.

They moved first to Baker, Oregon, where he drove truck for Standard Oil, then to Longview, Washington, where he worked as an engineer for Longview Fiber Company.

A brief stint as a farm hand on the McKensie ranch near Almota, Washington, was followed by a long, successful career as a mechanical engineer.

In 1970 he founded what is now known as L and S Engineering in Spokane, Washington.
Robert retired in 1988 and enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing and traveling the world.

He helped design and build hospitals, universities and churches around the world.

He was a charter member of the Longview (WA) Church of the Nazarene, followed by many years of service as an adult Sunday School teacher and Board member of the Spokane Valley and Cheney Nazarene Churches, served the Northwest District Church of the Nazarene as an Advisory Board member and was an active Gideon.
Robert was a charter member of the VFW Post 7482 in Island County, earned his professional engineer license in 1957, was voted Engineer of the Year in 1979 in Spokane, received the “Eagle Award” from Northwest District in 2003, and the Distinguished Service Award from Cheney Church of the Nazarene in 2009.
He is survived by his wife Coralyn of Clarkston, Washington; children: Robert D. (Kathleen) Luhn of Othello, WA, Richard A.

(Marcia) Luhn of Anatone, WA, Mary E. Luhn of Clarkston; one brother, Albert (Pamela) Luhn, of Maxwelton, WA; three sisters, Leanne Hoover, Langley, WA, Marjory Francisco, Aberdeen, WA, and Eloise (Allen) Anunson, Silverdale, WA; five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held Friday, September 28, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Lewiston First Church of the Nazarene, Lewiston, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gideons International.

Please sign the on-line Book of Memories at www.merchantfuneralhome.com