Ruth M. Dutton

Ruth Muilenburg Dutton, a resident of Gig Harbor, WA for the past 22 years and former resident of Atlanta, Georgia, died September 4th at the age of 101.  Ruth was born in Rolla, Missouri February 16, 1917 and graduated from The University of Iowa.  At Iowa she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi. After graduation she taught school in Hannibal, Missouri.

Ruth married Donnell W. Dutton of St Louis, MO and resided in Atlanta, GA for over 50 years.  Don was Director of the Ga. Tech School of Aeronautical Engineering for twenty years.  An active supporter of the Girl Scouts of America, Ruth led Girl Scout Troops for both daughters.  Ruth was active in the Ga. Tech Women’s Aero Club as both a member and President.  She had numerous hobbies including sailing, power boating, jewelry design, sewing, and gardening.  Her children were blessed that she was a wonderful mother and homemaker who always supported their numerous activities.  Ruth and Don were active members of the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church while in Atlanta.  After their move to the Northwest in 1996, they joined the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church.  Ruth and Don were life-long sailing enthusiasts and competed at the National level in the Y-Flyer built by Don.  They were active members of the Gig Harbor Yacht Club for several years.  Both Ruth and Don were avid world travelers and delighted in visiting their children when they were abroad.  In addition, they were lifelong supporters of continuing education and funded endowment scholarships for Aeronautical Engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology and students at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband and life partner Don, and sister Dorothy Kasten of Kansas City.  She is survived by son, Bob Dutton (Carol Dutton) of Boston; daughter, Diana Logan Reiman (Dale Reiman) of Gig Harbor; and daughter, Susan Parish (Randy Parish) of Athens, GA. She dearly loved her grandchildren Caryn, Andrea, Abigail, Reeves, Sarah, Jeff, Jennifer, Liz, and Rob. She was a proud and loving great-grandmother of 16 great-grandchildren:  Andy, Tyler, Adah, Ashby, Rudy, Shreya, Baker, Ravi, Vanessa, Nicole, Melanie, Daniel and Jonny, Michael, Gabrielle, and Andrew.

A family memorial service is planned for next year.

Friends are invited to visit Ruth’s webpage on the Haven of Rest website at www.havenrest.com and leave remembrances and comments.  For those who wish, donations can be made in Ruth’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

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