Obituary of Gary D. Hutchison

Gary D. Hutchison Aug. 13, 1938 – Nov. 18, 2007 Age 69 Gary was born in Worthington, Indiana to Edward and Bonnie Davis Hutchison on August 13, 1938. The family moved to Linton, Indiana when he was a small boy. He spent his youth there and graduated from Linton High School in 1956. After graduation Gary joined the U. S. Air Force and served 4 years. He successfully completed basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi. From there he was stationed in Portland, Oregon and worked near Mount Hood. His next assignment was Korea and lastly Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho where he met his wife Elaine Benham. They were married September 2, 1960 in Linton. Gary worked for Indiana Bell Telephone Company for 2 years in Linton until he hired on with IBM in Terre Haute. His electronics skills gained from his military service and from Indiana Bell were an asset in his chosen career. He progressed from Customer Engineering and to Field Engineering and then into management. His promotions took him and his family to Poughkeepsie, NY, Hartford, Ct, and his last assignment with IBM was on a Federal Aviation Administration government contract at their Atlantic City, NJ testing facility. Gary’s work ethic and personal integrity added up to a loyal employee, who could always be counted on to get the job done. Through his years with IBM he received numerous awards for his dedication and commitment. In 1993 Gary was diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized to his brain. He went through eight months of intensive radiation and chemotherapy. When the doctors released him to return to work in 1994, IBM’s contract came to an end and Lockheed Martin out-bid IBM for ongoing services so Gary decided to take his 32-year retirement with IBM. However, Lockheed Martin offered him the same position so he remained there for another 5 years retiring in September 1999 when he and Elaine moved to FL. Gary’s family was his primary interest and his pride and joy. He was a member of the B.P.O. Elks and a member of the First Baptist Church of Venice. He was a man of many talents and interests. He enjoyed doing carpentry and like finding out what made things tick. Solving problems, making things run smoothly again, and creating something from his own design made him happy. He was an avid sports fan and especially fond of basketball since he played high school basketball in Indiana. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Edward. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Elaine; his mother, Bonnie Hutchison of Linton, IN; a brother Errol Hutchison and wife Carole of Mechanicsburg, PA; a sister, Marilyn Booker and husband Ron of Dugger, IN; a daughter, Karen Brillon and husband Robert and grandson Madison of Sarasota, FL; a son Eric Hutchison and wife Bess, and grandchildren Lauren, Chase, and Sydney of Newtown, CT; a son Stanley Hutchison and wife Charleen and grandchildren Jack and Olivia of Newfield, NJ. Other special people in his life were his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Steve and Mary Mengel of Vancouver, WA. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the First Baptist Church of Venice, 312 W. Miami Avenue, Venice, FL 34285 or to TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238.