Richard M. Dutton
Today our family lost a hero – Richard M Dutton passed away on May 3, 2013, at Grant Medical Center in Columbus after complications from an injury sustained on April 27th when he fell while trimming a tree.
Our hero excelled in many things. Important things like growing tomatoes, flipping between channels with his remote control and outwitting ground moles. He excelled at impersonations of people like Gomer Pyle and Sergeant Carter. He could mow the entire yard in 3 foot circles and have it turn out looking perfect. He loved many things throughout his life, like bologna sandwiches, doing crossword puzzles, piano music, golf and Barbara Mandrel. He loved fishing and scuba diving in the Florida Keys and the History Channel, but most of all he loved us, his family.
He despised laziness, mashed potatoes and Gary Busey. His signature everyday look consisted of a plain white tee shirt, blue jeans and a ball cap and house slippers.
The women in his life were numerous…his mother whom he loved, Louise Dutton (deceased), his grandmother Stella Dutton (deceased) who raised and adored him, his 3 sisters he shared his childhood with, Donna Fernandez of Alabama, Carla Sample (deceased) and Jolanda Karcher (deceased), his beloved dog “Maggie” who was his constant companion the last several years and misses him terribly. His main squeeze, Betty Lou Boice whom he married February 14, 1951, was the love of his life. Together they had 6 children: Cindy (Ed) Fogle, Dave (Lauren) Dutton, Julie Green, Dan Dutton (deceased), Beth (Jeff Hines) Dutton, Joe Dutton.
He took pride in his family, his community, his military service as a Marine (Semper Fi), and his years as 1st Sergeant with the National Guard and Army Reserves. He gave 45 combined years of service to the Marietta Fire Department and the Ohio State Fire Marshall’s Office. He excelled in baseball and spent several years playing professional minor league baseball with the Cleveland Indians. He was proud of his 11 grandchildren and 12½ great grandchildren. He also cared deeply for his brother-in-law Jerry Boyce (Barbara) and sister-in-law Kenna Huck (Roger).
He was never a materialistic man, always living within his means. He was honest, intelligent and selfless.
He was born to Louise and Carl Dutton on January 21, 1931.
He was 82.
He was our hero.
Ascension services will be Thursday (May 9) at 1:00 pm at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with Mayor Joe Matthews officiating. Burial will follow a Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday after 3:00pm. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.lankfordfh.com.