Robert D. Dutton
Wednesday, October 05, 2005

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, in the Church of the Resurrection in Tualatin for Robert D. Dutton, who died Oct. 1 of cancer at age 70.

Mr. Dutton was born Nov. 2, 1934, in Medford, and moved to Portland in 1941. He served in the Air Force for 22 years, including during the Korean War and in the Vietnam War. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross in Vietnam. In 1978, he moved to West Linn and was a member of the church. He married Maryann Valpreda in 1960.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Pamela Pittman and Jeanette King; son, Greg; sister, Helen Landers; and five grandchildren.

Remembrances to Providence St. Vincent Foundation for nursing education. Arrangements by Holman Hankins Bowker & Waud.

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Comments by: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Shively, USAF Retired

Greg, I hope you can use these comments about your dad's military service.

As you know for two years, 1965 - 1967, I was director of operations for the United States Air Force aerial reconnaissance aircraft flying electronic surveilance missions in international airspace along the periphery of the Soviet Union. The intelligence data collected for our nation by these missions was of great value, but these flights were not without risk. The danger was real, and over 100 young airmen of our military services lost their lives while performing these aerial reconnaissance missions. Bob Dutton was one of these unsung heroes. As a crew member of an RC-135 flying the long polar routes out of Alaska, and as a crew member of an EC-47 in Vietnam looking for Charlie, he made an important contribution to our nation's security. He deserves our praise and our thanks for a job well done.

Greg, Dottie and I send our love to you and Mary Ann and your family.

Bob