Richard Travis Hutton

May 28, 1922 - October 9, 2023 Richard Travis Hutton was born in Upland, California, on May 28, 1922, and died peacefully of natural causes at his son Todd's home in Pasadena, California, on October 9, 2023. He was 101 years old.

Rick was one of four children born to William Bryan Hutton, a citrus rancher, and Mabel Luther Hutton, a housewife. Rick had an adventurous childhood in the Etiwanda/Alta Loma area where ranch life taught him humility and resourcefulness. He remained a country boy at heart and was happiest outdoors. Rick attended Chaffey Junior College and enlisted in the Navy (with his twin brother Robert) where he served as an aviation radio technician from September 1942 until January 1946. After an honorable discharge from the USN, Rick entered the University of Nevada (engineering major) where he met his future wife, Chicago native Carol Anderson. Rick and Carol married in 1948. Rick had a strong sense of community. He enjoyed telling stories about his large extended family with deep roots in Southern California. For example, his grandfather, Aurelius W. Hutton, came to Los Angeles after the Civil War, served as LA City Attorney and a Superior Court judge, and was a founder of the Indiana Colony (which became the city of Pasadena). Rick and Carol always looked forward to the especially lively Hutton family parties throughout the year.

First and foremost, Rick was dedicated to his family. His memory was very sharp throughout his life, and he was known as the family genealogist; he wrote several books about his family and could be counted on by relatives to answer questions about their own families. Rick was also a great friend and neighbor, always ready and willing to lend a hand to help with problems or repairs.

Rick was especially proud of his work as an aerospace engineer, including work on flight data recorders, used to help determine the cause of airplane crashes, which ultimately saved countless lives.

Rick enjoyed a long retirement, especially traveling throughout the world with Carol. A standout trip was to Poland with Global Volunteers, helping Polish adult students with English instruction and connecting with local residents. Rick and Carol also formed strong friendships with numerous foreign students and families.

During the Covid pandemic, Rick moved to a custom, personalized suite at the home of his son Todd and daughter-in-law Paige who did everything they could to make his final years comfortable and enjoyable. He was able to visit frequently with family members either in person or by phone, keeping in touch with everyone's activities. He kept up with all the latest news but also loved looking back, telling stories about his life. Rick's opinions on the current state of affairs were well known, as was his dry sense of humor. He caught up on the latest technology at the house and became a fast friend of the family dog Nala.

Rick is survived by four of his children; Hilary (Steve) Dorsey of San Marino; Bryan (Le) of Katie, Texas; Drew (Doreen) of San Diego; and Todd (Paige) of Pasadena. Rick's oldest son, Rick Jr., (Theresa), predeceased Rick in 2010, and his wife Carol in 2017. Rick was held in great esteem and loved dearly by his nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed! A private family burial service will be held at Riverside National Cemetery.