Rev. Gordon Hutchins

Rev. Gordon Hutchins 11/23/1917 5/21/2014 The Rev. Gordon Hutchins, age 96 died on May 21 in Wilmington, Massachusetts. For the past four years he had lived at Woodbriar of Wilmington Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility. Prior to this, he lived in Portland, Maine. He and his late wife of 49 years, Margaret (Pierce) Hutchins who died in 1994, retired to Portland making their home there where his wife was born and always wanted to return to. For many years he was the assisting priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland. Prior to that, he was the Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Gardner, MA from 1970-1985. He was also a retired colonel and chaplain in the United States Army where he had a very distinguished military career, serving for 26 years with assignments both in the United States and overseas. He entered active duty with the Army in 1944. He served in the European Theater during World War II with General Patton's Third Army, and also served as General Patton's chaplain during the war. In addition, he served in Korea during the Korean War. He was post chaplain at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, for four years from 1960-64, and served as assistant post chaplain at the Nuremburg Military post in Germany from 1964-67. During the Vietnam War, he was one of the chaplains who informed and offered support to countless family members who had lost loved ones. Upon his retirement from the Army, he received the Legion of Merit. Rev. Hutchins was born in Ancon, Panama Canal Zone where his father was stationed in the Navy. He later attended General Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating in February, 1943. He was ordained a deacon in March of the same year, entered the priesthood the following October at St. John's Williamstown, Massachusetts. He entered the Army chaplain's corps in February 1944, and attended chaplain's school which was then located at Harvard University. He and his late wife, Margaret Hutchins met in Munich, Germany in 1946 where her father was stationed in the Army. Rev. Hutchins graduated from Williams College in 1939 and the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1943 with a Master's of Divinity degree. He loved meeting new people, was extremely outgoing and had a remarkable way of ministering to those most in need. He had a vast network of friends and will be missed by all. He was extremely positive about life and enjoyed it to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by his three children: Dr. Ellen Hutchins of Melrose, MA; Dr. Howard Hutchins of Stoneham, MA, Mr. Don Hutchins and his wife Barbara of McLean, Virginia; five grandchildren: Allison Hutchins of McLean, VA; Christopher Hutchins of San Francisco, CA; Ethan and Sophie Hutchins of Reading, MA; Sam Hutchins of Tempe, AZ; and a cousin, Lee Campbell of Concord, MA. Family and friends are invited to visiting hours from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday May 29, 2014 at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home 660 Brighton Ave. Portland, ME 04102. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday May 30, 2014 at Trinity Episcopal Church 580 Forest Ave. Portland, ME 04101. Gordon's family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Woodbriar of Wilmington for their exceptional care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Trinity Episcopal Church, 580 Forest Ave, Portland, Maine 04101 or to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 79 Cross Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.

Rev. Gordon Hutchins

November 23, 1917 - May 21, 2014

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