Richard Bancroft Dutton

Richard (Dick) Bancroft Dutton, 84, died on October 31, 2021

Dick was very concerned about justice issues and walked humbly with his God.

He was born in Santa Rosa, California, on July 20, 1937, to Jack B. Dutton and Evelyn L. (Berry) Miller, who were predeceased. He married Jean P. Munro on September 5, 1959 at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, where they met and had many life long friends. They both graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, and together they loved to camp and backpack. Jean, a violinist and therapist, died of cancer in 1996.

They had three children, Kenneth B. Dutton (Deborah) of Fort Wayne, IN, Wendy M. Dutton of the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, and Amy E. Dutton (Brooks Murphy) of Portsmouth, NH, and ten grandchildren: Heather M. Dutton (Jorge Vargas), Caleb B. Dutton (Carla), Mitchell B. Dutton (Lisa); Molly A. Hockin (Nick), Jesse L. Dutton-Kenny (John), Forrest Dutton Roberts, and Graham Dutton Roberts; Ford B. Murphy, Elle M. Murphy and Kate F. Murphy and five Great Grand Children: Theodore B. Dutton, Calvin B. Dutton, Hazel Jane Dutton, Wyatt Vargas Dutton, and Cecelia Rose Dutton.

Sara (Sally) Ann Bull and Dick met in 1997 at Lenten Dinner in Fort Wayne and were married in Granby, CO, on May 21, 1998. Sally was a Student at Louisville Seminary when they married, and after her ordination Dick retired and Sally accepted calls in Ohio and Florida. Dick volunteered as the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Washington County, OH, and Okeechobee County, FL. He also set up a Food Pantry in Okeechobee, FL and volunteered at the Food Bank in Lee County, FL.

Dick and Sally moved to Westminster Point Pleasant Continuing Care in Bradenton, Florida in 2015, after Dick’s heart surgery.

Dick earned a BS degree from UC Berkeley, and completed an MBA at Golden Gate University. He worked in the automotive and truck industries management for 38 years, including work on the International Harvester Scout, the forerunner of the modern SUV. Before that, he served two years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an Officer at the Air Defense School at Fort Bliss, Texas.

He had a wide range of interests and areas of involvement. He enjoyed teaching Bible studies and being involved in Presbyterian Churches in California, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida. A life-long passion has been Gardening and Horticulture. Dick became a Florida Master Gardner in three different counties over 15 years.  Other interests included Travel, Reading, Movies, and Music.

Memorial Gifts can be made to Peace Presbyterian Church or “Feeding Tampa Bay” Food Bank.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and a Committal in the Memorial Garden will be held at 3:00 on November 26 at Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 State Road 64 E, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202