Richard Lee Cutchin

Richard L. (Dick) Cutchin, LCDR USN, Master Ocean Unlimited USCG licensee, age 84, of Aurelian Springs, N.C. passed away peacefully on March 23, 2024 at 2:52 a.m. Dick was born on 1/15/1940 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the son of the late George Savage Cutchin and Iona Virginia Cutchin of Norfolk, Virginia. Dick graduated from Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia in 1958 and enlisted in the US Navy on 5/4/1959.
After graduating from Nuclear Weapons School, he was selected for the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program and the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School. He then attended North Carolina State College and was awarded a BS degree in electrical engineering in 1965. After completion of Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island he was commissioned a US Navy Ensign in 1965.
During his naval career he served in many capacities, some of which included Anti-submarine Warfare Officer aboard the USS Luce, DLG 7, Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer for the 3rd Marine Division, 12th Marines In-country I Corp, Vietnam, Weapons Officer and Operations Officer on the USS Willard Kieth, DD 75, 1st Lieutenant aboard the USS Speigel Grove, LSD 32, Director of School of Navigation, Fleet Training Center, Norfolk, Virginia, Navigator on the USS Inchon, LPH 12, Staff of Commander Surface Forces, Atlantic.
Dick received numerous honors during his naval career including Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action Medal, First Class Color with Palm), Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Staff Medal (First Class), Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After 20 years of service to his country, Dick retired from the US Navy as a Lieutenant Commander on April 1, 1979. After receiving his US Coast Guard Master Ocean Unlimited license, he served as second mate and chief electrician aboard the ocean-going hopper dredge USS Comber. He then accepted a position over-seeing the sea-trials of the MV Stuyvesant at Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana and upon completion accepted the position as Master of the Stuyvesant, the largest ocean-going hopper dredge built in the US at that time with a capacity of 9980 cubic yards. He worked all major shipping channels of the US east coast, Gulf of Mexico and west coast. As Master of the Stuyvesant, Dick and his crew received a US Coast Guard Commendation for a rescue operation saving three men whose fishing vessel had capsized and sank in heavy seas in Coos Bay Entrance Channel near Portland, Oregon on June 2, 1986.
After leaving the Stuyvesant, Dick sailed as Chief Mate aboard the US Corp of Engineers hopper dredge McFarland before retiring and moving to Aurelian Springs.
Dick loved his wife, Cathy, his family, his country, the sea and nature. He enjoyed wood-working, building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, kayaking, antiquing and photography. He was a member of Tabor Methodist Church in Littleton, North Carolina and a member of American Legion Post 38.
He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Catherine Brewer Cutchin, 6 children, Sandia Beals (Jim) of Charleston, Illinois, Dr. Richard Cutchin (Melanie) of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Cheri Childress of Cheraw, South Carolina, John Cutchin (Crystal) of Chesterfield, South Carolina, Dawn Johnson (Tim) of Waynesville, North Carolina and Jack Hall (Karen) of Littleton, North Carolina, seventeen grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren, as well as his brother, Edward F. Cutchin (Paula) of Meadow Lakes, Texas, his sister-in-law, Betty B. Mayo of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and 5 nieces and 2 nephews.
Services will be held at Tabor Methodist Church in Littleton at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday March 27, 2024. A visitation will be held in the Sanctuary of Tabor Methodist Church in Littleton from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. preceding the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Tabor Methodist Church, 16976 Justice Branch Road, Littleton, NC 27850.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com.