MEMORIAL SERVICE AND OBITUARY FOR LUTHER CARNELL "LUKE" PHELPS

                                                                                       

LUTHER CARNELL “LUKE” PHELPS

Nov. 9, 1940-May 29, 2025

MEMORIAL SERVICE 

Mt. Olive Cemetery, Stanley, LA.

Nov. 9, 2025 @ 2:00

Luther Carnell Phelps was born on November 9, 1940, in Jasper, Texas, and passed away on May 29, 2025, in Morongo Valley, San Bernardino, California.  “Luke” to his family and California friends, and Carnell in his hometown, he was the fifth of the six children born to John Marshall Phelps and Minnie Ola Nunley Phelps.  

He grew up in Logansport, Louisiana, and attended Logansport High School where he graduated with honors in 1956.  In high school, Carnell played on championship football and basketball teams.  Quiet and studious, he made many dear and lifelong friends over his school years.

He served his country honorably, leaving the U.S. Army with the rank of Specialist 4th Class.  At Louisiana Tech University, in Ruston, LA. he majored in engineering, receiving numerous scholarships, and graduating with a Bachelor of Science. Degree.

At the time Luke graduated, in the early 1960’s, computers were just coming into widespread use, and engineers interested in the new sciences were in demand.  Blessed with mathematical ability and a solid education, Luke was a natural in the new field.   He became a pioneer in digital development, building a long and productive career in Information Technology.  Over the course of his career, he moved from machine languages, COBOL, BASIC, and PASCAL into the era of Artificial Intelligence. 

The new technologies drew Luke from his roots on the Texas-Louisiana border, to the Bay Area of San Francisco and San Bernardino, where he made his home for almost half a century.  Luke spent his retirement years doing what he loved most — golfing and spending time with friends and family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and four of his five siblings — Robert Lee Phelps, Winston Downing Phelps, Maitland Vaneta Phelps , and  Harlan Phelps  He is survived by his younger brother Dalton Phelps, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Luke will be remembered for his intelligence, kindness, and sense of humor, as well as his deep love of family the simple joys of life and love for his dogs.