John Thomas Hutto, age 82, passed away suddenly @ 2:00 AM on Monday, September 19th, 2022, at Solaris Retirement Community in Poway, California.
He was born July 2, 1940, in Joplin, Missouri to Rhoda Mae (Jackman) and Herman Hutto. John grew up in Galena, Kansas where he played high school football for the Bulldogs. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marines he learned to scuba dive and later became a scuba instructor, which led to a love of all things water, including sailing. John served in the Marines for 22 years during which time he completed two tours in Vietnam. At the end of his military career, he was a Drill Instructor at Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, CA) and retired as a Master Sargent.
John lived a full life after retiring and built a trimaran boat, the “Afternoon Delight”. He took the “Afternoon Delight” on two year-long trips to Mexico and numerous weekend getaways. The first major voyage was in 1983 with then wife Anita and son Scott. His final major trip was in 1992 with wife Laura, Scott, and good friend Ricardo Davalos. His favorite destination in Mexico was a small fishing town about 400 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, Bahia de Los Angeles, and surrounding islands including the land locked Turtle Bay in Baja California. In addition to scuba diving and sailing, hunting and fishing were also some John’s favorite activities.
In 1984, John applied to be the Manager at Fiddler’s Cove Marina (via the MWR Department with NAB Coronado) where he later met the love of his life, Laura Ann Cain. They were married June 13, 1987. Through Laura, John gained a stepdaughter Melissa and stepson Freddy.
John is survived by his son Scott, of Escondido, CA, (wife D.D.), grandchildren Chloe, Reed, and Laura, great-grandchildren Sessanie, Marley, and Kasper, Melissa, Freddy, niece Tammy Duckwall and nephew Shane Hutto, and beloved friends.
Memorial services will be held December 8, 2022, at Derfelt Funeral Home in Galena, KS. John’s ashes will be laid to rest with his parents and wife Laura at Oak Hill Cemetery in Galena, KS.
