John B. Kluttz

John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement. When John purchased his first Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life! At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well. John was the living embodiment of the phrase “Live your passion and you never work a day in your life”. When not working on Model A's, he was learning everything he could from the history of the Ford Company down to the most intricate details of the cars. He was a mechanic as well as a historian. He loved his hours in the archives of Ford Motor Company and found pleasure in reading history after history of the company. John’s philosophy was to restore a car to the exact specifications of how it rolled off the assembly line. He was a valued and highly-esteemed member of both the local and national Model A Communities, serving in many capacities during his years of membership and service. He was member of MARC - Model A Restorers Club, Hornets Chapter of the AACA and Queen City Model A Club. He served on the Judging Standards committee, was a Master Judge and presented highly-anticipated seminars at national club meets on topics of his considerable expertise. Along with his wife and lifelong partner, Julie who shared his passion, they gave many hours of time and in service to these clubs. John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Award - the highest award given to members at the national level. This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: “John was a great Model A man and ambassador to our hobby. He was a friend to all that knew him. John was always ready, willing and able to take on any Model A project. He was willing to share his advice on the phone or in person. It has been said that John forgot more about the Model A than most of us even knew. We truly lost a GIANT in our Hobby." He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz. His funeral service will be 1pm Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church with Rev. Kris Mares officiating. Mr. Kluttz will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the interment in the church fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or to, Stanly Community Christian Ministry, 1324 East Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001.

John B. Kluttz

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023