Alton D. Gutshall entered into eternal peace May 2, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. His beloved wife Jeanette M. Rose was always by his side supported by neighbors, friends and family including his In-Laws, R. Patricia and John O’Grady of Hingham, John McDonald and Susan Stillwell of Melrose, Elizabeth and James Pare of Whitman, Christine Bronchuk, and Anne Marie, Daniel, Jerome, and Bernard McDonald, of East Weymouth, MA.
Alton was pre-deceased by his mother Mary Jane (Schroat) Gutshall and father Lester L. Gutshall (Cpt. USN).
He is survived by his step-mom, Rita M. Gutshall and by his sisters Kathy and her husband Bob Snyder, Grace House, Margie and her husband Ed Berkheimer and by his brothers Pete and his wife Rhonda Gutshall, Lester and his wife Eileen Gutshall, Mark and his wife Kelly Gutshall all of PA. He was the father of Cery Logeman, and Greg Gutshall of FL and Cory Gutshall of WI. He is also survived by grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts and uncles.
Alton was especially blessed with the lifelong friendship of Nan and Gary Dietrich of Mechanicsburg, PA and special friends Gil and his wife Ruby Quigley of VA.
Sgt. Gutshall retired from the US Army in 1985. While serving in Vietnam, his unit was recommended for the Bronze Star.
He resided at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. for many years and a remembrance service will be held there in the Rose Chapel.
Sgt. Gutshall was a supporter of Abraham Lincoln’s Summer Cottage, a National Trust Historic Site, located on the grounds of the Soldier’s Home, where President Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation.
A celebration of his life will also be held at the Carmelite Monastery, Roxbury, MA.
Sgt. Gutshall was a world traveler and leaves many friends in the Space A program. He was a lifetime member of the D.A.V. and belonged to Lt. Ralph Talbot, Chapter 65, Post in Weymouth and was a sponsor at the Army Heritage Center foundation in Carlisle, PA.
He was an extraordinary trivia buff with a wide range of knowledge of history, sports, automobiles, music and nature. He was interested in current events and enjoyed reading the USA Today newspaper.
Sgt. Gutshall and his wife, Jeanette, are most appreciative to Mason Sullivan, Bob Sinclair and staff at the Boston DAV and to Dr. Landis Mitchner, Todd LaBreck and staff at the Brockton VA hospital.
Also Alton and Jeanette greatly appreciated the care that was provided by Dr. Thomas Abrams, Dr. Marios Giannakis, and the staff at Yawkey 7 and of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the staff of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA.
A Fully Funded Family Music Scholarship in Alton’s name is now being established.
Burial will be at the Arlington National Cemetery.