Paul Anthony Hutchinson

Paul Anthony Hutchinson

January 10, 1940 - June 20, 2024

NAPA - With family by his side on the day after his 59th wedding anniversary, Paul Anthony Hutchinson passed away following a grueling eight year battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 84 years old. Paul Hutchinson was a man of integrity, perseverance, pride, and incomparable honesty. He worked tirelessly, but always knew how to have fun or seek out a new adventure.

At the age of one, Paul came to California from Oklahoma with his parents Thomas and Lucille Hutchinson and his older brother John. His family settled in the old Ship Yard Acres which he fondly remembered as a young boy's paradise. Whether he was camping in the hills of the Napa Valley, riding go-carts, sledding in cardboard boxes down grassy hills, or fishing in the Napa River with friends; Paul instinctively knew how to enjoy life. As a young man, Paul was an adventurer. He joined the US Air Force after high school where he learned to fly and maintain airplanes. Building and flying airplanes would become his lifelong passion.

After leaving the Air Force in 1960, he studied at Napa Valley College and then San Jose State majoring in electrical engineering. Always true to his passion, he worked during this time as a pilot for Bridgeford Flying Service at the Napa Airport. He would eventually become one of the first in Napa to have a hot air balloon; and some may remember his red, white, and blue ballon advertising Stornetta's Milk soaring above the valley. In 1964, his life took a serendipitous turn when he went into business with his brother John. For the next forty five years Paul and John created numerous fondly-remembered Napa businesses which included Jefferson Food Market, Napa Food Center, J&P Market, and the J&P Video Stores not to mention numerous real estate ventures.

It was also in 1964, that Paul met and fell in love with Linda Bastian who had recently returned from college to teach in Napa. They married in 1965, and the birth of his sons Tony and David soon followed. Though a busy man, he never missed a chance to sneak out to the airport and take a flight. He was known to fly above the playground and tip the wings of his biplane to say, "Hi!" to Linda and her students when she was a teacher on playground duty at McPherson Elementary School.

In 1976, Paul and Linda built their dream home in Alta Heights which would become known to the family as "Hutchinson Hill." It was also at this time when untimely deaths in Linda's family brought four more children into his life. Doug, Myra, Becky and Lorie Bontje became his children by heart and choice. Two years later his youngest son Dan was born bringing the total children in the Hutchinson household to seven. On the three acres of "Hutchinson Hill," Paul's family had a safe place to grow and thrive. He encouraged all his children to follow their own path with the constant expectation that they work hard and be honest. Paul Anthony Hutchinson was an exceptionally good man and will be deeply missed.

Paul leaves behind his brother; his wife; his seven children, and 13 grandchildren.

Burial will be private with no formal funeral service.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Providence Hospice Napa Valley for their exceptional care and support during Paul's illness.

Donation in Paul's name to this amazing organization is encouraged in lieu of flowers.