Joseph B. Luten

Joseph B. Luten, 87, of South Bend, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Joseph B. Luten was born in South Bend, Indiana on February 3, 1925 to Lonnie and Lillian Luten. Joseph was a man of great integrity, was committed to education, and as young man strived to attain the necessary resources to make his dreams reality.

Joseph graduated from South Bend Central High School. He entered the US Navy and served honorably three and a half years during World War II. After his tour of duty in the Navy he enrolled at Central State University in Ohio. He graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in 1950. While at Central State he met his wife, Della Wilkerson.

His first teaching job was in Owensboro, Kentucky. He taught Chemistry and Physics in the high school along with coaching Varsity Basketball. In 1954 he and his wife were offered teaching jobs with the South Bend Community School Corporation. He received his Masters from the University of Notre Dame in 1956. Joseph was the first Black male to receive a degree from Notre Dame.

He was appointed principal of Franklin School in 1963. While at Franklin, he implemented many new programs to meet the needs of his students. He along with his staff started a lunch program, which was one of the first in the South Bend School Corporation. Another outstanding initiative he and his staff developed was an Adult Basic Education program for parents to enable them to help their children be successful in school. Franklin School under Joseph's leadership, piloted the first elementary counseling programs along with three other Indiana elementary schools.

He was appointed principal at Madison Elem/Jr. High in 1972. Madison was one of the few schools in South Bend that was racially and economically balanced. In 1981, integration was formally initiated in South Bend Schools. Joe was asked to execute the skills he demonstrated at Madison at Kennedy Elementary, a predominately Black school. In 1986, Kennedy was selected by the US Department of Instruction as an Exemplary School of Excellence. This was a first for a South Bend school, and further exemplified Joseph's talents in Educational leadership. This prestigious award afforded Joseph and several of his teachers an invitation to Washington DC to meet President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of Education, William Bennett. The US Department of Education recommended Kennedy to represent the entire United States for a CBS special on Exemplary Schools of Excellence. The school was nationally televised on Charles Kuralt's Sunday Morning Show. The school was selected because of the atmosphere and approach to meeting the needs of all students.

In 1989 Joseph retired from South Bend Community School Corporation. He was invited to the join the United States Department of Education as an evaluator of their nation-wide Drug Free School Program. He accepted and was able to travel the world visiting schools.

During a period of racial unrest and riots, the South Bend YMCA wanted to open its facilities to minority children. Joseph was asked to serve on their Board of Directors to help implement programming for minority youth. This division is now called the YMCA Urban Youth Services. Joseph served on the Board of Trustees for over fifty years, retiring in 2011.

Joseph was a member of Grace AME Zion Church where he served on the Trustee Board. He was a member and past president of the South Bend Lions Club, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and also on the Board of Directors for the South Bend Heritage Foundation.

Joseph has received many honors and awards, including Indiana's highest award for service; The Council of the Sagamores of Wabash Award. He was recipient of Jay Nimtz Award by the city of South Bend for his outstanding commitment to education. February 2011 he was awarded the Trailblazer award along with the Key to the City.

Joseph B. Luten is survived by his caring, compassionate wife of 62 years, Della, son, Quincy; grandson, Joseph(Lil Man); sister, Ann Nell Waters, all of South Bend, Indiana. He is also survived by three sisters in laws, Virginia Wilkerson, Frances (Rufus) Hawkins and Willie Ailster, all of Detroit, Michigan. Joseph is also survived by a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews, nieces and cousins.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Lillian Luten, grand-daughter, Tameka, brother, Alexander Luten and two sisters, Mary Louise Stephens and Geraldine Collins.

08/01/2022 EJS