Hutchison, William Butler 1922-2012

HUTCHISON, WITTER, DECKER, WOLBRINK, EICHNER, GREEN, OLSON, DOTUR, EUBANK, FLEMING, VANDENBERG, DECKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/16/2021 at 13:08:34

William Hutchison
1922-2012
Des Moines

William Butler Hutchison, aged 89, died at Kavanagh House on January 14, 2012. He was born in Des Moines on January 17, 1922, to Inez Witter Hutchison and William Earl Hutchison.

Bill grew up in Des Moines and in Perry, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1941. Afterwards, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he first worked for the FBI. He attended George Washington University while taking the Civilian Pilot Training Program so he would be licensed to fly when he enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He served until 1945, as part of the VPB139 Patrol Squadron flying a PV2 Harpoon medium bomber out of Attu Island. During the war, he clocked more than 4,000 hours of flight time. He continued to serve as an officer in the Navy Reserve until 1965, flying Neptune patrol aircraft.

After the war he returned to finish his bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Iowa, where he met Pauline Decker, a war widow at age 22. They married in high style on New Year's Eve, 1946, in Hollywood, California. Bill and Polly enjoyed their early years together in Iowa City. They had two children, while Bill worked as rehabilitation counselor for tuberculosis patients. The couple moved to Windsor Heights, where they welcomed a third child. Bill later worked for Pfizer for eight years. His love of flying led him to teach aviation at Tech High School. Finally, until he retired, he taught English at Tech, North, and Lincoln High Schools.

Bill and Polly attracted friends and family to a home that cherished and celebrated learning, literature, and classical music. They loved hosting cocktail parties, and faithfully attended the Des Moines Symphony. Bill was well versed in many subjects, especially poetry and history. A lifelong reader of The New Yorker and The New York Times (he aced that newspaper's crosswords), he became an expert on world history and politics. Bill continued to work at the voting polls well into his 80's: a stalwart New Deal democrat all his life.

Bill was a born storyteller. Often, he would regale his audience with tales about his childhood on a farm near Perry, the Great Depression, the war, and his beloved dogs. He loved having Scotch, salmon and Maytag blue cheese on hand while he talked, and his stories got richer every time he told them.

Bill treasured his grandchildren, and retained his extraordinary mind to the end. He is survived by his daughter, Vivian (Paul) Wolbrink of Spring Lake, MI; son, Douglas (Eileen) Hutchison of Des Moines; daughter-in-law, Mary (Jerry) Eichner of Seattle, WA; cousin, Bud (Lois) Green; brother-in-law, Jack Olson; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Dotur; nine grandchildren, Rachel (Zach) Eubank, Rebecca (Tyler) Fleming, Hannah, Helen, Graham, Craig (Lisa), Erika, and Kathryn Hutchison and Shelley (Jeff) VanDenBerg; three great grandchildren, Avery, Evelyn and Polly; four nephews and one niece. He is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline; son, William; sister, Marilyn; brother-in-law, Richard Decker; sister-in-law, Vivian Katherine Olson; his parents; grand-dog, Lydia, and many dear friends.

Bill's family will gather at a burial service at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. A memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, January 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Wakonda Club in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Des Moines Symphony or Paws & Effect.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 19 Jan 2012.