William A. Hutton, 89, retired bank executive, WWII vet

William A. Hutton, 89, of Havertown, a retired bank executive and decorated World War II veteran, died Sunday, Feb. 5, in the nursing residence at Broomall Presbyterian Village of complications from pneumonia.

The son of Irish immigrants, Mr. Hutton grew up in Bryn Mawr and graduated in 1940 from Lower Merion High School. He then worked in the receiving department at Gimbel Bros. and marched in the store's Thanksgiving Day parade.

In 1942, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned as a radio operator to the 83d Division, 329th Infantry Regiment, F Company. On D-Day plus 12, he landed on Omaha Beach and first saw combat on July 4, 1944, in Normandy. F Company was attacked while crossing a swamp, and two thirds of the men were killed or wounded.

Mr. Hutton escaped injury and went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. "He said he was never as cold as he was at the Bulge," son Andy said. In April 1945, while fighting in Germany, he was hit in a leg by enemy shrapnel and later received a Purple Heart.

After his discharge, Mr. Hutton joined the Corn Exchange National Bank. When it merged with Girard Trust Co., he met his future wife, Dorothy Veit, a Girard employee. The couple married in 1952. He always said, "The banks merged, then we merged," their son said.

Mr. Hutton retired from the trust department when Girard merged with Mellon National Bank.

While his four sons were growing up in Havertown, Mr. Hutton was a manager of the Llanerch Hills Little League and comanaged the Manoa Baptist Church softball team. He was a volunteer with Boy Scout Troop 163 in Manoa and was the official cook on many camping trips.

Mr. Hutton enjoyed gardening and grew tomatoes, asparagus, and cucumbers. He and his wife took bus trips to Quebec, Florida, and South Carolina, and attended his Army reunions in Ohio and Florida. She died in 2007.

In addition to his son, Mr. Hutton is survived by sons Lex, Ken, and Don; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial and life celebration will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at Lower Merion Baptist Church, 911 New Gulph Rd., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010. Friends may call from 2:30.

Donations may be made to the church.

Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com.