Larry Lynn Dutton, 77, of Iowa Park, Texas, passed away peacefully on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2024, in Wichita Falls, Texas, after a courageous battle against Parkinson's Disease and other health issues incurred as a result of his exposure to the chemical Agent Orange in Vietnam. Larry was a hero to his family, a wonderful husband, father, proud Pawpaw to his grandchildren and great-granddaughter, and a giving friend to so many.
The family will receive friends between 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2024 in the Activities Center at Grace Church of Iowa Park. Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Life Church, 4350 Seymour Highway, Wichita Falls, with Pastor Gene Holley, Rev. Dennis Neal, Pastor Wendell P. Elms, and Pastor Kendall Graves, officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow Electra Memorial Park in Electra under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.
Larry was born at the family home in Ringgold, Texas, on December 12, 1946. He was the ninth child born to Melvin Ottis “Bub” Dutton and Essie (Fox) Dutton. In 1956, at the age of 6, Larry moved with his family to Electra, Texas, where his father had taken a new job with Magnolia Petroleum Company. He graduated from Electra High School in 1966 and had plans of becoming a funeral director. He married Norma Jean Anderson on January 20, 1967, at the United Pentecostal Church in Electra. On July 18, 1968, Larry answered the call to serve, being drafted into the U.S. Army. He did his basic and advanced training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and was sent to Vietnam in January, 1969 where he served as a Combat Medical Specialist. He was wounded twice, first from shrapnel wounds, and second, from stepping on a mine when his platoon found themselves in a mine field. That injury returned him to the States where he finished out his military service at Fort Sam Houston. Larry received 2 Purple Heart commendations due to his service injuries. He also received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Army Commendation Medal, (With V Device), and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged on July 1, 1974 with the rank of Specialist 5.
Larry began his career in the funeral business, working part time during his senior year of high school for the James B. Totten and Son Funeral Home in Electra, Texas. After graduation, he worked full time. He was set to attend mortuary school when on July 4, 1967, his father passed away suddenly at home with a massive heart attack. The shock of his father’s death made him question his desire to become a funeral director, but after his military service he, Norma and their two daughters, moved to the Dallas area in 1977 where he attended and graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. During his career Larry worked in several area funeral related businesses, including working for Raby Hampton at Hampton-Vaughan Funeral Home as a funeral director, purchased and operated Dutton Overland Services, serving law enforcement agencies with unattended deaths, assisted funeral homes with out-of-town funeral services, and transported deceased persons all over the United States. He managed Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett, Texas, helped to open and managed Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home in Wichita Falls and in August, 1989, he and his family purchased the Tanner-Aulds Funeral Home in Iowa Park, later changing the name to Dutton Funeral Home, where he worked along side his family, serving the citizens of Iowa Park, Electra and the surrounding areas. He also owned and operated LLD Marker Services where he designed and installed grave markers and monuments for many area families and businesses. Larry was known all over the State of Texas and Oklahoma within the industry as one to turn to for advice and when a helping hand was needed. Larry always gave Jim Totten and Raby Hampton credit for giving him his start in the funeral business and for teaching him the professional ways to prepare a decedent and to conduct a funeral service. He truly was a servant to those in need at their worst times in life.
In addition to being a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the States of Texas and Oklahoma, Larry was involved with the communities in which he lived. He was a member of Life Church, Wichita Falls since 1973, and was a former member of the University Kiwanis Club in Wichita Falls, the Lions Clubs in Wichita Falls, Burkburnett and Iowa Park. He was a member of the Boards of Directors of the Better Business Bureau, the Friendly Door Senior Citizens of Iowa Park, Iowa Park Chamber of Commerce, served a term on the Burkburnett Independent School Board, and served 9 years on the Iowa Park Consolidated ISD School Board. In 1994, after only 5 years in business in Iowa Park, Dutton Funeral Home was chosen as Iowa Park's Business of the Year by the Iowa Park Chamber of Commerce and in 2019 Larry was chosen as Iowa Park Senior Citizen of the Year and previously received the Iowa Park Masonic Lodge #713 Community Builder Award. Larry always said that if you treat the poorest as if they are kings, you’ll never have to worry about a thing.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Bub and Essie; three brothers, Melvin, Jr., who died as an infant, Bill Dutton and Tommy Dutton; and one sister, Patsy Pittman.
Larry is survived by his wife of 57 years, Norma of Iowa Park; two daughters, Lori Jeannette Hernandez and husband, Gabriel of Iowa Park, and Kassie Lynnette Pounds and husband, Randy of Wichita Falls; one son, William Lynn Dutton of Iowa Park; nine grandchildren, Jessica Pounds and husband, Andre, Ethan Parker and partner, Tanner Slavens, Madison Gallegos and husband, Jose, Miles Dutton, Harrison Pounds, Lyla Pounds, Max Dutton, Ashley Hill, and Kaitlyn Hernandez; one great-grandchild, Sophia Gallegos; “adopted” son and daughter, Lance Boren and Priscilla Venegas; four sisters, Sue Hale, Peggy Jean Barker, Linda Stell and husband, Don, and Rena Jo Miller; many nieces, nephews and so many loving friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Life Church Building Fund; the Parkinson's Foundation; Hospice of Wichita Falls; or the charity of choice.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Senior Care Health and Rehabilitation and to Hospice of Wichita Falls for their professionalism, and overwhelming love and care during Larry’s final stages of his battle with this awful disease. We would also like to thank our family and friends for the outpouring of love shown to Larry and our family throughout his illness. We may never have riches according to this earth’s standard, but we are among the wealthiest with the love of friends and family.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com
