John Richard "Rick" Luellen
November 7, 1952- October 9, 2026
Rick (John Richard) Luellen, 73, passed to his heavenly home October 9, 2026, at his residence in Pendleton, IN. Rick was born November 7, 1952, in New Castle, IN. He was the son of John H. Luellen and Esther Gay (Smith) Luellen Ormes , both deceased.
Rick attended elementary and middle schools in Markleville, IN, and graduated from Pendleton Heights High School in 1971. In September of that year, he joined the United States Air Force with a career in security and law enforcement. Later he enrolled at Ball State University, Muncie, IN, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree May 1, 1992. Having an extensive interest in family ancestry, history and art and painting, Rick spent many hours reading and researching Luellen ancestry and the distinctive history of the Holocaust, as well as collecting books on significant figures in History and coins.
Married 54 years to Christy, his high school sweetheart, prom date and life love June 4, 1972, they immediately made a home in the Air Force Base town of Plattsburgh, NY. He was retired from Delphi, General Motors, as an industrial engineer, founded his own lean consulting company and later worked at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, TN. He was a member of Fall Creek Christian Church in Pendleton, where he previously served as a deacon and church treasurer. Being a natural leader, he had served as president of the Blue River Valley Optimist Club, Mt. Summit, IN, and as the HOA of Pendleton Pointe.
Sharing family vacation memories of Walloon Lake, Petosky, MI, and ranch travels to Wyoming, are his wife Christy (Lewellyn) Luellen, daughter Angie (Jason) Semler, twins Allison (Chris) Luellen-Williams and Andy (significant other Sarah Martin) Luellen. Grandchildren are Tyler (Regan) Semler, Allie (Ethan) Baker, Carter Luellen, Brynn and Theryn Williams and precious great-grandson Thompson Baker, age one, and his companion Veteran Service Dog Teddy Roosevelt Luellen. Other loved ones include his brother Brad (Cindy) Ormes, sisters Linda Shelton and Jonene Jones, sister-in-law Ann Luellen and additional cousins, nieces and nephews. He lost a brother and best friend Jeff Luellen of West Monroe, Louisiana, January 1, 2021, who he missed each day.
Visitation will be Friday, October 16, at Fall Creek Christian Church, from 10 am to 12 pm and services at 12 noon. A graveside service will be at Mt. Summit Cemetery, at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to America’s VetDogs, America's VetDogs, 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787 or Fall Creek Christian Church Impact building campaign, 1102 West 700 S, Pendleton, In, 46064.
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