Logan Lauer Dutton

Logan Lauer Dutton, 91, died January 7, 2016 in Sarasota, Florida. He was born February 14, 1924, in Uhrichsville, Ohio, the son of Gerald Max Dutton and Ella Maude (Homan) Dutton. Mr. Dutton was a 1942 graduate of New Philadelphia (Ohio) High School and entered the United States Army later that year. He served in the 100th Infantry Division that invaded France in October 1944 and pushed up the Rhone River Valley and eventually into Germany after the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. During this campaign, Mr. Dutton met his future wife, Jeanne Kuehn, in Weinbourg, France. Following his discharge from the Army in 1946, he returned to New Philadelphia, Ohio and was employed by the Sinclair Oil Company.

In 1947, Mr. Dutton married Jeanne Kuehn in Akron, Ohio and continued his career, eventually working in the accounting group at Warner & Swasey’s New Philadelphia Gradall manufacturing plant, and, in the early 1960s, at American Manganese Steel and Hewlett-Packard facilities in Colorado. In 1963, the family returned to the New Philadelphia area when Mr. Dutton began a 25-year career in hospital administration at Union Hospital in Dover, Ohio. He retired in 1989, having served in various capacities at Union Hospital, including Vice President for Administrative Services for several years and Interim Executive Director. In 2003, Mr. Dutton and his wife Jeanne moved to Sarasota.

Mr. Dutton was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Harold and Richard and, in 2007, his wife Jeanne. He is survived by his sons Chris (and his wife Ann Bradley Dutton) of Shelburne, Vermont, Tim (and his partner Allison Pinto) of St. Petersburg, Florida, and KC (and his wife Hua Lu) of Washington, DC. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, including nieces Sharon Dutton Frank and Sally Furbay Fox with whom he maintained close contact over the years. He was a devoted and loving husband throughout his marriage to Jeanne of nearly 60 years. He supported and guided his three sons during their childhoods and beyond and was not only their father but their true friend.

Over the course of 40 years, Mr. Dutton served as the informal secretary and chief organizer of the World War II veterans who comprised the 100th Infantry Division. The group held regular reunions throughout that period. Over the course of the last three years, Mr. Dutton wrote a book, ‘Logan’s Heroes,’ that recounted his war years, how he met his future wife and his post-war years building a family. In 2008, Mr. Dutton, accompanied by his three sons, returned to Europe, revisiting places throughout France and Germany where he had served in World War II and visiting members of his wife’s family in France. The trip was a highlight for him and his sons. Mr. Dutton also embraced new technology, teaching himself how to use the internet and Skype to communicate with his colleagues and family. He had an elaborate system of ensuring that he never missed the birthday of a friend or family member and sent each of them a timely birthday card that he designed and made using computer graphics.

Mr. Dutton was an active member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Sarasota where he developed close friendships with many parishioners. In addition, Mr. Dutton enjoyed the support and love of his neighbors in Sarasota.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover at 11:30 AM with the family greeting guests one hour prior to services from 10:30-11:30 AM. Immediately following, all are invited to share in a meal and fellowship in Hospitality Room of the Dover Geib Center. Private burial will take place in the Dover Burial Park.

Contributions in Mr. Dutton’s memory can be made to the Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3131 61st Street, Sarasota, Florida 34242, or to Tidewell Hospice (which cared for Jeanne Dutton during her final illness), 2504 34th Avenue W, Bradenton, Florida 34205.

The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Sarasota Memorial Hospital who worked so hard for Mr. Dutton during the final week of his life. Their dedication and thoughtful care eased his burden and is much appreciated by his family.