Reverend Dwight A. Dutton

            Reverend Dwight A. Dutton, 76, of Groton, formerly of Granby, Connecticut passed away peacefully on Monday, April 21, 2014. Reverend Dutton was born on May 3, 1937 in New London, the son of the late Lendon Frederick and Adelaide Watkins Dutton. He was a 1955 graduate of Fitch High School in Groton and married his beloved wife of 54 years Barbara A. Orkney on June 20, 1959 at the Groton Congregational Church.

            He studied at the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1969 from the University of Hartford with a degree in mechanical engineering. In his first career he worked for General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton and Combustion Engineering in Windsor. During this time he and Barbara raised a family, living for 34 years in Granby where they enjoyed living on a small family farm on which they raised or grew most of their own food. Reverend Dutton was active in Granby as a Boy Scout leader, a Little League umpire, a member of the Board of Education, a long time member of the Granby Men’s Golf League, and as co-director with Barbara of the Pilgrim Fellowship youth program at the First Congregational Church.

            In 1988 Reverend Dutton was called to a second career in the ministry. He received a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary and undertook further studies at the Yale Divinity School. During this period of formation Reverend Dutton served as Chaplain to the Open Hearth Mission in Hartford. He received his call to ministry at Broadview Community Church in Hartford, where he served as Pastor from 1992 until 2003. During this time he sang as a baritone with the Hartford Chorale and traveled with the Hartford Chorale to perform in Italy, Austria, England, Ireland, and Wales.

            In 2002, Reverend Dutton had the honor of participating in the 300th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Groton Congregational Church. In 2003, Reverend Dutton was called to serve as Pastor of the Groton Congregational Church, a position he held until his passing. During these years he actively pursued a lifelong interest in woodworking, was an avid golfer at the Shennecossett Golf Club, was a regular fixture every summer at the Shenecossett Beach Club, and never met a cookie he didn’t like! He loved cruising and recently took a voyage around the British Isles, including a visit to the Orkney Islands.

            Besides his wife, his survivors include two sons, Peter and his wife Catherine Dutton of Burlington, Massachusetts and Robert and his wife Katharine Dutton of Granby, and two daughters Nancy and her husband Stephen Hayes of North Granby, and Allison Dutton and Elliott Bell of Windsor Locks. He is survived by his sister Ruth Fuller of Saegertown, Pennsylvania and was predeceased by his brother L. Frederick Dutton, Jr. He took great pleasure in his nine grandchildren Stephen, Ian, Rachel, Chelsea, Brendan, and Trevor Dutton, and Seth, Nathaniel, and Rebecca Hayes.

In his final months Reverend Dutton resided at Fairview in Groton. His family is deeply grateful to the entire staff for their outstanding care during his illness, but most especially for the tremendous comfort and support provided him by his aides Joann and Garnett.

            A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 am on Saturday, May 3 at the Groton Congregational Church, 162 Monument Street. A reception will follow at the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations in his memory be directed to the Restoration Fund, Groton Congregational Church, 162 Monument Street, Groton, Connecticut, 06340.