Joseph Hutchison

Colonel Joseph William (Joe) Hutchison passed away at Duke-Raleigh Medical Center on February 9th, 2011. Joe was born March 30, 1937, in Fort Sill, OK. He was an accomplished classical pianist as a teenager in Germany but opted to follow his father and uncle into West Point and a career in the Army. During his teenage years in Germany, Joe also enjoyed hunting and skeet shooting with his father. He later became a legend in West Point skeet shooting competitions, earning numerous awards. His father served on General McArthur’s staff during World War II and during the postwar occupation of Japan. This latter assignment netted Joe, his mother and brother slots on the first Military Dependant troopship to arrive in the Japanese homeland after the surrender providing him with a rare opportunity to learn about Japan from his father’s Japanese counterparts. Commissioned in the Class of 1960, Joe began his Army career as an artillery officer with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. For over thirty years, he served his country in a wide variety of assignments stateside and overseas, including two combat tours in Vietnam. His favorite duty assignment was as the Commander of a Pershing Missile Battalion in Germany. Returning to the Pentagon, he was confronted with heart disease (later considered Agent Orange related) just before his assignment to Army War College, Carlisle, PA. His final duty assignment before retirement was teaching leadership at the Naval War College, Newport, RI. Joe earned numerous military awards and decorations including Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with four clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal with two clusters. He was particularly proud of his Parachutist Badge. After retiring from the military, Joe was the Senior Operations Manager for the City of Raleigh Finance Department. Upon retirement in 2000, he pursued his lifelong passion for photography, delighting friends and family with his pictures and note cards. He will be remembered as a kind and good man, devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He made friends with everyone, and was always ready to help others. His parents, Major General Charles Richard Hutchison and Esther Webb, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rebecca (Becky) Patterson, of Raleigh, NC, son Joseph Hutchison, Jr. and wife Kathy of Stafford, VA, daughter Cynthia and husband Ben Aichele of Tampa, FL, daughter Julie and husband Andy Cooper of Kelsall, England, and son Christopher Hutchison of Wilmington, NC, and seven grandchildren, Krista, Kara, Ashley, Andrea, Carly, Joe, and Max. The family will receive friends at The Cypress of Raleigh Club¬house on Sunday, February 12 from 1:00 until 3:00 pm. The funeral will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences can be sent to the family via Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, NC.

Joseph Hutchison

March 30, 1937 - February 9, 2011