Richard G. Dutton

Richard G. Dutton
Dec.14, 1928 - Jan. 28, 2025
Richard Gilmore Dutton, age 96, of Washington, CT, passed away peacefully at home on January 28th, 2025 with loved ones by his side.
Born in Orange, New Jersey on December 14th, 1928 he was a son of Leon Dutton and Mary (Dillon) Dutton. Dick's father attended Dartmouth College but left to enlist in the US Army Signal Corps Aeronautical Division and went to become a WWI pilot trainer flying the Curtiss JN "Jenny". Dick also attended Dartmouth College where he was a member of the ski team. Upon graduating in 1951 he enlisted in the US Army and served in the Counterintelligence Corp in Salzburg, Austria during the Korean War. Dick's older brother John (Jack) Dutton served in the US Army during WWII and was wounded at the Battle of Metz. Dick's younger brother William ("Bumps") also served in the US Army.
After his Army service Dick went to work for The Reader's Digest Inc. in the production department. In the early 1960s Dick moved to New Milford, CT with his first wife and two sons, David and Philip. The property was known historically as "Bend in the Road Farm" which Dick single handedly resurrected into a small working farm with a few cows, pigs, chickens, the neighbor's horse and a pony. Dick travelled extensively for the Digest during this time setting up printing plants around the world. He rose to Executive Vice President with a staff of 80 and an annual budget of $150 million dollars. Dick finished his career at Guideposts Magazine.
Dick was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, skier, and loved working the land. Mowing his lawn and fields became his devotion. Family and friendships were paramount in his life. There were countless adventures led by Dick: skiing at Madonna, fishing at Kibby Kamp, Tremor's gatherings, Lobster festivals and Dartmouth football weekends. In the early 1970s Dick and his family moved to Washington, CT. It was here that Dick became deeply involved in the community serving as a selectman, on the Republican Town Committee, and on the parish council for his local church.
In addition to his parent's and his brothers, Dick was preceded in death by his second wife Peggy (Loos) Dutton. He is survived by his sons David P. Dutton (Sonia) of Cherry Valley, NY and Philip M. Dutton (Ann) and his granddaughter Juliette of Washington, CT and numerous nieces and nephews.
In 1996 Dick attended his 50th High School reunion and ran into an old friend who asked him "Whatever happened to that gal you dated in High School? Didn't you ask her to marry you?" To which Dick replied "Helen Stone? I did ask her and she said 'Yes' but her parents said 'no' because I'm Catholic and she was Episcopalian. I haven't seen her since 1954." The friend said he'd heard Helen was living in Florida and had been divorced and widowed and maybe Dick should give her a call-which he did. A few weeks later Dick flew to Florida to visit Helen and a few months later Helen sold her house in Florida and moved to CT with her dog, Alabama. Dick and Helen were married in 2000.
The family would like to thank the staff at Village Crest Rehab, particularly nurse supervisors Jeff, Jessica and Cindy P. We also give a very special thanks to Dick's at-home caregiver Rosalyn Days.
A Funeral Mass will be Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 34 Green Hill Rd., Washington, CT. Military Honors will be held outside the church immediately following mass. Burial will take place at a later date at the family's convenience.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to RVNA and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com