Cruthers Vanatta ‘Dick’ Sutton
Biography
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Date of Birth February 28, 1919
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Place of Birth West Lafayette, Indiana
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Date of Death February 4, 2012
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Place of Death Lafayette, Indiana
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Place of Burial On their farm in West Lafayette, IN
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Burial Notice Cruthers Vanatta ‘Dick’ Sutton, 1919-2012
Parents
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Father’s Name John Cruthers VanNatta Sutton
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Mother’s Name Elizabeth Evelyn (Rowe) Sutton
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Parent’s Family Name John and Elizabeth (Rowe) Sutton Family
Spouse
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Wife’s Name Margaret Henrietta ‘Gary’ (Cadwell) Sutton
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Married Family Name Cruthers and Margaret (Cadwell) Sutton Family
Children
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Daughter’s Name Jacqueline Elizabeth (Sutton) Leaman
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Daughter’s Family Name David and Jacqueline (Sutton) Leaman Family
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Daughter’s Name Sharon Ann (Sutton) Waggoner
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Daughter’s Family Name William and Sharon (Sutton) Waggoner Family
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Son’s Name Richard Cadwell ‘Rick’ Sutton
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Son’s Family Name Richard and Catherine (Parker) Sutton Family
Personal History
There are conflicting records regarding Cruther’s middle name.
His marriage license shows “Vanatta” as his middle name.
But Sharon’s birth certificate shows “Van Natta” as his middle name.
And, his military records show his name as just “Cruthers V. Sutton”
This document uses “Vanatta” for his formal middle name.
Cruthers Vanatta (Dick) Sutton, age 92, of West Lafayette, passed away at 7:40pm Saturday, February 4th, 2012.
He was born February 28th, 1919 in West Lafayette Indiana to the late John Cruthers Vannatta and Elizabeth (Rowe) Sutton.
Dick enlisted in the army as Master Sargent and flew with the 19th Liaison Squad in the China Burma India Operation during WWII from 1942 to 1945. While serving he earned many medals and honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross. (See Dick’s China Pictures) (Listen to Dick’s Audio Interview)
He was a lifelong Tippecanoe County native and attended Montmorenci High School. He returned from the war and farmed until he retired in 1972 and then went to work for Purdue University as an aircraft mechanic. His was member of American Legion. Dick had a contagious sense of humor and his passions in life were flying, his wife Gary, and his family. He spent his free time as a flight instructor for the "Tail Draggers", sharing his lifelong love of flight with everyone.
Surviving him are his wife Margaret and their three children Jacqueline (husband David Leaman) of Roanoke VA, Sharon (husband Bill Waggoner) of Springfield IL, and Richard (wife Cathy Sutton) of West Lafayette IN; 6 grandchildren, Philip Waggoner (wife Amanda), Joshua Waggoner (wife Kristina), Elizabeth Sutton, Samantha Sutton, Danielle Sutton, and Joseph Sutton; and 2 great grandchildren, Jack Waggoner and Claire Waggoner with another great granddaughter on the way. He is also survived by his siblings; Edna Harner, Jack Sutton, and Mary Ella Altherr; and he is preceded in death by his brother Charles Sutton and sisters Marie Fraley and Evelyn Howell.
Services will be held at the Soller-Baker Funeral Home, on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Visitation begins at 1:30 and the memorial service is at 2:30. Online condolences can be sent to www.soller-baker.com Published in the Journal & Courier on February 6, 2012
When Bill Waggoner proposed to Sharon in 1976, both he and Sharon drove out to her parent’s house on the farm afterwards. Sharon’s dad was home at the time. Bill told Dick that he wanted to marry his daughter and asked him for his permission to marry her. Dick’s response surprised Bill, as he said “You’re over 21 aren’t you?”. I said yes, to which he said “Well OK then”. We all laughed, and that was it.
Photos
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