Mr. Charles “Lindy” Dutton Sr. passed away Friday, Nov. 26, 2021.
He was born Jan. 3, 1930, in Anson County to the late Clay Battle Dutton and Retta Moree Dutton.
Lindy grew up in Rockingham. He graduated from Rockingham High School in 1947 where he and just one other boy were members of the Beta Club and, during his senior year, Lindy drove a school bus.
He married Harriett Earl, who was a registered nurse, in 1950. Since all the single men in the country had already been drafted and the Army was starting to draft married men, Lindy and his brother Oscar enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 1951, which was during the Korean War. During his four years of service, Lindy served in the Lower 48 United States, Saudi Arabia, and Alaska. While in Saudi Arabia, he was fortunate enough to visit and tour the Holy Land and was able to visit many bordering countries.
Upon his return from Saudi Arabia, Harriett became pregnant, and Lindy was sent to Alaska, a place that Harriett could not go. She stayed in Lancaster, South Carolina with her mother, and Lindy Jr. was born in 1954. Lindy Sr. returned from Alaska with the rank staff sergeant and met his son who was close to a year old.
After his tenure in the Air Force, he attended the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Lindy joined R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, served in variety of areas, became manager of Electrical Engineering and Electrical Design, and retired in 1987.
Upon Harriet’s passing in 2012, Lindy took over her Meals on Wheels route.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by his son, Lindy Dutton Jr.; five brothers, Herman, George, Wilburn, Oscar and Joyce Dutton; three sisters, Louise Guinn, Ruby Ingold and Ollie English; special niece, Jean Capps. Lindy is survived by four nieces, Jan Bridges, Glenda Thomas, Danetta Robinson and Susan Dutton; six nephews, Jerry Dutton, Jimmy Guinn, Donald Guinn, Tommy Wells, Gerald Dutton and Lee Dutton; and great-nephew, Jonathan Capps.
A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Central Terrace United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place 11 a.m. Dec. 2 at Richmond County Memorial Park in Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Terrace United Methodist Church, 3 E. Devonshire St., Winston-Salem, NC 27127.
Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.
