Obituary
Barbara Jean Lutz

Barbara "Barb" Jean Lutz, 80 years old, departed this earth for her place in the universe. She died peacefully at Transitions LifeCare Hospice Center on November 25, 2024 surrounded by her family. Born and raised in Tiffin, Ohio, she attended Calvert High School and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tiffin, where she and her husband, Mike, were married. The two met in High School. Barb, along with her husband, resided in various places since 2008, including Wurzburg, Germany; Ashland, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Danbury, Connecticut; Overland Park, Kansas; Princeton, New Jersey; and settled in Raleigh, North Carolina. She worked for St. Michael's School in Sharonville, Ohio; Marion Merrell Dow in Blue Ash, Ohio; and in Kansas City, Missouri. In Princeton, she worked for an interior designer, FLC Interiors, with the late Francis Crandall. As a resident of Raleigh for the past 16 years, she enjoyed going to Wrightsville Beach, the Outer Banks, and other coastal attractions including returning to the Jersey shore. She was a devoted family member, easily made friends, and maintained lasting relationships. Barb was born May 21, 1944 in Tiffin to the late Donald and Bernadine Koby Shelt. In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by her younger brother, Patrick "Pat" Shelt; and her two sisters, Judy Shelt Beard; and Susan "Sue" Shelt Emmons. Survivors include Larry (Jane) Shelt of Catawba Island, Ohio; Fred (Barb) Shelt of Tiffin, Ohio; Maureen (Wayne) Foster of Ocala, Florida; and a sister in law, Susan Shelt of Tiffin, Ohio and brothers in law, Vern Beard of Tiffin and Pete Emmons of Maryville, Ohio. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charles Michael "Mike" Lutz, whom she married February 25, 1967 and her daughters, Brenda (Mike) Soto of Westerville, Ohio; and her grandson Aaron (Emma) Soto and great granddaughter Lena Rose Soto, Plymouth Massachusetts; granddaughter Gabriela Soto, Westerville, Ohio; and daughter Erika Marie Lutz of Cary, North Carolina; and her son, Ryan Lutz, and daughter-in-law Jennifer Thies, her grandsons, Felix and Hugo Lutz, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Sisters-in-law; Catherine (late Roy) Johnson part time Golden, CO / Atlanta, GA; Jeanette (Milt) Gibson of Tiffin, and Mary Elizabeth Margraf of Aurora, Ohio; two brothers-in-law, James "Jim" (late Cindy) Lutz of Birmingham, Alabama and late William "Bill" Lutz of Tiffin. Barb is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Transitions LifeCare Hospice, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.