COLUMBUS
Willard “Bill” Dutcher passed away Thursday, October 17 at 9:10 p.m. at Keepsake Village in Columbus, Indiana with family by his side. He was 81 years old.
Bill was born May 28, 1938 in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of Willard W. and Marion S. (Kline) Dutcher. During his early teen years, the family moved to Florida, where he graduated from Pasco County High School in 1957. He then enrolled at the University of Tampa, where he received his degree in music in 1961. While at UT he met Marilyn Beth Fodrea, and they were married June 15, 1962. He would eventually receive a Masters in Education from Indiana State University.
Bill taught music and directed church choirs in Notus, Idaho, as well as Hattiesburg and State Line, Mississippi, before moving to Bartholomew County, Indiana in the summer of 1965. He taught elementary school band in the Bartholomew County schools before becoming the choir director at Edinburgh High School. During his 30 years in Edinburgh, he taught music at all grade levels and directed choirs at the high school. His Swing Choirs won many state awards during the ’70s and ’80s and performed throughout southern Indiana and as far away as Tennessee. In addition to his work at the school, Bill also directed the choir at the Edinburgh United Methodist Church, and helped found and direct a Community Choir that presented annual Madrigal Dinners at Christmastime for several years. After his retirement in the early ’90s, he became a partner with Kenny Wray at Wray’s Treasure Shop in Freetown.
Bill was a talented musician. He began piano at an early age and also received several years of vocal training. He played in dance bands throughout his high school and college years, usually at the keyboard but also on the baritone saxophone. Even when his Alzheimer’s disease had advanced, he could walk up to a piano and knock out a rousing boogie-woogie tune. He was a regular church soloist for many years and sang with three of his adult children in a quartet, performing in several area churches. He was also an avid gardener and enjoyed going into the woods in the fall to cut wood for his woodburning stove.
He is survived by his four children, Jeffry (Rebecca) Boe of Frazee, Minnesota, Sherie (Al) Reed, Ron (Keri) Dutcher, both of Columbus, John (Lori) Dutcher of Seymour; grandchildren, Mallory and Coleman Reed, Nathan and Noah Dutcher, Lora and A.J. McQueen, Kayla and Brittany Dutcher, Samantha Hineman, Sidney Carr; great-grandchildren, Ryker Burton, Trenton Hineman, Madalyn Wampler and Sophie Hernandez.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Beth.
The funeral will be conducted Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street with Ron Bridgewater and Pastor Fred Darling officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Bill’s family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.
