Paul Allen Hutchings

Paul Allen Hutchings of Burlington, North Carolina (previously of Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was joyfully welcomed to his heavenly home on December 16, 2025, after a long illness. Paul was born on June 4, 1932, in Pinckneyville, Illinois to Richard and Anna Hutchings. Devoted husband to Dorothy (O'Hara), and father to Melinda Hutchings of Fountain Hills, AZ, and John Hutchings of Manchester, NH as well as father in law to John's wife, Deborah. Paul is predeceased by his brother Kenneth, sisters Nomabel and Flora, and survived by his dear sister, Vera Pulley of Winston-Salem, NC and many nieces and nephews.

Raised on a farm in Pinckneyville, IL, Paul grew up with a focus on hard work, Christian values and his education, which was self-financed by Paul by raising pigs in a 4H project. He attended Southern Illinois University and the Missouri School of Mines to study civil engineering. Upon graduation, Paul enlisted in the United States Navy as an Officer. He trained at Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI before launching into flight training in Florida, where he met and married Dottie O'Hara in Jacksonville, FL in 1956.

Paul and Dottie then were stationed at naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, WA, where LTJG Hutchings, a Naval Aviator, soon became Crew Commander of the P2V aircraft and flew many patrol surveillance missions off the coast of Alaska looking for enemy submarines during the Cold War. He was the first in his squadron to qualify for carrier landings on the USS Saratoga. It was during this time, in Seattle, that their son, John, was born.

Paul was honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1962, and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he devoted his engineering skills with a construction firm (Abell-Howe Company). Soon after moving to Cedar Rapids, their daughter, Melinda, was born. As branch manager, Paul used his skills and technology to build industrial facilities in food processing and energy transmission that helped people with valuable products and jobs. It was in Cedar Rapids that Paul and Dottie built a home and raised their children. Paul was a deacon at the Immanual Baptist Church, as well as a Leader for the Royal Ambassadors and a Sunday School teacher. He raised his family to have a love of God, family, church, and world missions.

While living in Cedar Rapids, Paul built a cabin, and had a passion for hunting and fishing, both of which he shared with many friends and family. He also loved his Brittany Spaniels, and will be greeted in Heaven by Spud, Burp, Sam, Ginger, Belle and other furry family friends he loved so much.

In his later years, Paul and Dottie moved to Burlington, North Carolina, where he designed a home for their retirement years. It was here that Paul's talents as an extraordinary furniture craftsman would shine, and his woodworking masterpieces will be treasured by family for years to come.

Paul was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and always held the Pinckneyville (IL) Panthers basketball team close in his heart.

Paul Hutchings was loved and respected by everyone he knew and gave much of himself to others without condition. Everyone who knew Paul knew that they had been blessed by his kindness, wisdom, gentleness, and his heart.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to those who lovingly provided care to Paul and the family during this illness. A special thank you Dawn Crisp, the Authoracare team, Dr. Tullo, and the many CNAs who cared for him.