TUTTLE, Richard C. "Dick"

Richard C. 'Dick' Tuttle, 98, passed away Friday, May 18, 2012, at Apple Ridge Assisted Living in Denver. He was born May 3, 1914, in Benson, Neb., to Guy and Clara Tuttle and graduated from high school in Atlanta, Ill., in 1932. After high school he enrolled at Illinois State Normal University, majoring in art and then switching to elementary education to become a rural school teacher. On May 10, 1935, Tuttle married a university classmate, Ruth Wilson, and the couple remained married for 77 years. Tuttle’s first job was teaching 15 children in a one-room school at Walnut Row, Ill., near Atlanta. Tuttle was later hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a clerk typist, and the couple moved to Rock Island, Ill. Tuttle then became an instructor at the technical school at Lowry Field in Denver. After World War II ended, the Tuttles bought a business on F Street in Salida that became Tuttles’ Trading Post. Their third daughter, Rosemary, was born in Salida. Tuttle retired at age 65 and then served three terms as a Chaffee County commissioner, after which he served on the Salida Senior Center board of directors. Tuttle was instrumental in securing a mineral impact grant that funded construction of the Salida Senior Center, now called the Salida Community Center. He served as director of the center until 2007 and was active in Senior Center activities and played piano for events. In 2005, he received the Service to Mankind Award from Salida Sertoma Club for his years of service to the community. Tuttle is survived by his wife, Ruth, a resident of Apple Ridge Assisted Living in Denver; daughters Janet Younger, Marilynn Reeves and Rosemary Tafoya, all of the Denver area; grandchildren Richard, David and Linda Blair, Tom Reeves and Nathan Tafoya, eight great-grandchildren and many friends who will remember him as one of Salida’s prominent residents. Funeral services were set for May 23 at Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home with interment to follow in Fairview Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Salida Community Center, which was his pride and joy. The family would appreciate hearing from friends. Online condolences can be made at www.lewisandglenn.com. 2012