Laconia-----Virginia B. Hutton, 94, died at the Taylor Home in Laconia on August 14, 2012. She was born on August 10, 1918 in Rochester, Vermont, the daughter of the late Eugene C. and Dorothy (Campbell) Brooks. Ginny grew up in Rochester and Springfield, Vermont, attending school in Springfield until shortly after the beginning of her senior year when her family moved to Winchester, Mass. She graduated from Winchester High School, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Middlebury College and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Boston State College.
Ginny worked at the Shawmut Bank in Boston for a year before, during the summers, and a year after attending Middlebury. In February of 1943, she joined the U. S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve – one of the very first women to do so in WWII. She is believed to be the first female Marine Commissioned Officer to run a Post Exchange in the country, heading up the PX in the Washington, DC area (Arlington, VA). In 1944, Ginny married Albert “Red” Hutton, who had been a classmate at Middlebury and who was also serving in the Marine Corps in Bougainville and Guadal Canal.
Following WWII, Ginny and Red lived briefly in Melrose and Lowell, Mass. then settled in Arlington, Mass. where they raised their 3 children.
Some of Ginny’s other work experiences include working in a church office, working in a real estate office and teaching pottery at the adult education level.
She became certified to teach children with learning disabilities and did so for many years, with great skill and compassion, in the Melrose, Mass. School System as well as the New Hampton School in New Hampton, N.H.
After retirement, Ginny and her husband moved to Sanbornton, N.H. on Hermit Lake, where she was instrumental in getting legislation passed to assure safe speed limits on the lake and where she served on the local Conservation Commission. A walking trail in Sanbornton was named in her honor, recognizing her volunteer efforts in that community. In December of 1991, The Huttons moved to an independent-living home in the Taylor Community in Laconia, N.H. They led a chair exercise program in the Taylor Home three days a week. After Red’s death in 1998, Ginny continued to lead that exercise group right up until just a few months ago. Ginny, who was always thinking of others, took great pleasure in creating personalized cards on her computer for her many friends and neighbors as well as for family members. Ginny also created and donated the beautiful mosaic that hangs in the non-denominational chapel in the Ledgeview Building at the Taylor Community.
Ginny moved into Assisted Living at the Taylor Home in early July and conducted the last chapter of her life in the same manner with which she lived her life – with dignity and grace.
Ginny is survived by 2 sons, Jon R. Hutton and his wife, Susan (Whitman), of So. Weymouth, Mass. and Robert K. Hutton of Tewksbury, Mass.; a daughter, Jean B. Noel, and her husband, Richard, of Berwick, Maine. She is also survived by her sister, Eva Drysdale, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 grandchildren, Geoffrey Hutton, Robert Noel, Richard “Ricky” Noel, Matthew Hutton, Brian Hutton and Dylan Lisio; 3 great-grandchildren, Kurtis Hutton, Ryan Noel and Emma Noel, as well as very special nieces and nephews – 8 nieces and 3 nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Eugene “Gene” Brooks. Ginny also leaves behind many wonderful neighbors and friends.
Respecting Ginny’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. There will be an informal “Reflective Service” held in the atrium of the Taylor Home and a Committal Service held at the N. H. State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, N.H. in about a month’s time. Friends and family with be notified of the dates and times.