WILMINGTON — Richard Alexander “Dick” Hutchins passed away early in the morning on November 4, 2024 in Wilmington, NC.
Dick was born on October 17, 1942 at Watts Hospital in Durham, NC to Clarence Alexander ”Buck” Hutchins and Catherine Herring Hutchins. He went to Durham High School and attended Northgate Presbyterian Church where he met, fell in love with, and married Joan Bari Johnson on April 14, 1963. Dick attended UNC Chapel Hill, Mars Hill University, joined the U.S. Marine Corps and eventually graduated from Elon University in 1966.
During the week, Dick worked as a loan officer and mortgage broker at CCB, Northwestern, First Citizens, and BB&T but on the weekends, you’d likely catch him coaching little league baseball and basketball, attending UNC football games, working at his father-in-law’s auction sales or just “piddling” in the yard.
He loved music more than anything, his friends and family, his grandchildren, the under dogs, the holidays, a good fire, tradition, entertaining, the beach (especially the ride to get there), the Beach Buddies, and he could play the hell out of a rock-n-roll, boogie woogie piano. He was a man of solid principle and lived by Andy Griffith values. He was a big civil rights advocate, believing strongly in the plight of black people. He was as sentimental as the ocean is wide. Old men, old women, soldiers, children and songs made him cry. He was so smart and equally funny. If you were around him for 5 minutes or 5 hours you were guaranteed a full belly laugh. Dickie Hutchins will be missed dearly.
Dick is predeceased by his parents Clarence Alexander “Buck” Hutchins and Catherine Herring Hutchins as well as his loving in-laws Jack and Mary Johnson and his delightful niece Wendi Rene Hutchins. He is survived by his devoted wife Joan Hutchins and their children Mary Catherine (Greg Marinich) Pat (Kim Hutchins), Zeke (Sharon Hutchins). “Gandi” is also survived by five grandchildren: Jack and Nicholas Marinich, McCallum and Helen Grace Hutchins and Denver Hutchins. He is also survived by his brother Norman Gordon “Chip” Hutchins, his sister-in-law Margaret Hutchins, his brother-in-law David Johnson, his nephew and niece, Tyler David and Shaylan Marie Johnson, and many other cousins and friends of all ages.
There will be a Celebration of Life or you might say, “one big damn party” in honor of the one and only Dr. Dick on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at our dear friend Chris Holloway’s restaurant Picnic located at 1647 Cole Mill Road in Durham, NC.
The celebration will begin at 12:30 PM, but “don’t rush off now.”
Please stick around for the 2:00 PM tip-off as we cheer for the UNC Tarheels against the FSU Seminoles in honor of our Dad, one of UNC’s biggest fans.
If you are coming from out of town, please contact Mary Catherine, Pat or Zeke for hotel contact.
Please leave memories and condolences for Richard’s family here.
