William R. Hutchinson, Jr.

William R. Hutchinson, Jr. died on September 3 at the age of 80.

Bill was born at St. Patrick's Hospital in Lake Charles, LA, on December 17, 1940 to William and Audrey (Duclos) Hutchinson.  He was the first of five children.  When Bill's father was called to active duty in WWII, the rest of the family relocated to his mother's hometown of Rayne, Louisiana (the frog leg capital of America).

When Bill’s father returned form the war and resumed his previous employment, the family relocated to Pensacola, Florida. This was the first of several moves, from Pensacola, they traveled to Mobile, Alabama, Miami, Florida, and finally New Orleans, Louisiana where they remained long enough for Bill to complete grade school and high school, graduating from Jesuit High School in 1958. Shortly thereafter, the family was on the move again to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bill enrolled in Indiana University in the fall of 1958. This was the start of a rather tumultuous educational career. Bill finally graduated in1964 with a major in Psychology, and minors in Sociology and Anthropology. Faced with the choice of grad school or the draft, Bill elected to sign up for the U. S. Navy Officer Candidate program. After a brief respite, Bill reported to Newport, Rhode Island for Officer Candidate School.

Training began at 5:30 am the next morning. Bill survived, however, and began a career as a naval officer which lasted 7 years and included tours of duty at the Naval Reserve Air Station, Grosse Ile Michigan, the Naval Support Activity, Danang RVN, and the USS Nereus (AS-17), a submarine tender home ported in San Diego California. Bill separated from the Navy in August 1971 having achieved the rank of Lieutenant in the Supply Corps. For his unit’s service during the Tet Offensive, Bill’s unit was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. After his separation from service, Bill elected to return to Indiana (since California was overrun with unemployed ex-naval officers) and pursue a master’s degree in business.

Discovering the Veteran’s Benefits were not enough to pay for full-time tuition and living expenses and being unwilling to move into his parents spare room, Bill decided to switch to a part-time program offered by the IU School of Business on the IUPUI campus and earned both Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Affairs degrees. The employment market was much more favorable here in Indiana and Bill was quickly able to find a position at the Indiana School for The blind as the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services.  He later worked for the Public Employees Retirement Fund.

Bill was a member and officer of the Indianapolis Ski Club, where he met his wife, Agnes. He was also Treasurer of the Eagle Creek Sailing Club. He had life-long passion for travelling, reading, and model railroading.

Bill is pre-deceased by his parents, Bill and Audrey Hutchinson; and brother, Bob Hutchinson. He is survived by his wife, Agnes Hutchinson; children, Tim (Rose) Howe and Chris Howe; grandson, Haleigh (Julie) Howe; and siblings, Kay (Don) Eaton, Ann (Ed) Williams and Marie (Bob) Amass.

A Memorial Service will be held on a to be determined date.