Merton W. Hutton

Merton W. Hutton, age 91, of Greenville passed away Monday morning, December 2, 2024, in St. Paul’s Senior Living Community.

He was born in Monmouth, IL on October 27, 1933 to Rev. George William and Mary Bernice (Warne) Hutton.

Merton attended public schools in Marissa, IL, Detroit, MI, and Butler, PA. He was a newsboy, a scout, member of the safety patrol, choirs, and loved cycling and playing baseball. He attended Muskingum College then enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, serving as an airport control tower operator (honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1955)

He married Mary Beth Malcolm of Freeport, PA on August 24, 1955 and then moved to Washington, PA to attend Washington & Jefferson College (A. B. degree, cum laude, 1958). After teaching a year at Bethel Park, PA, he moved to New Jersey to attend graduate school at Rutgers University (M. A. degree in English and American literature, 1962).

Merton was employed as assistant registrar and scheduling officer at Rider College for four years then took a similar position at Trenton State College in 1967. He became registrar of the college in 1969 and a member of the English faculty, positions he held until 1981, when he resigned to move to Greenville, PA.

On August 19, 1981, he married Mary Lowry Stegkamper of Greenville. Merton was employed as adjunct faculty and assistant to the registrar at Thiel College in 1982. In 1983, he was employed as general manager of Mercer County Motor Club; then, in 1993, was named president of the Mercer region of AAA East Central PA. He retired from AAA in 1998.

Merton and Mary spent winters in their home in Florida and traveled widely in the United States and Europe. They participated in bridge groups, volunteered at Greenville Historical Society, and enjoyed weekday lunches with friends at area restaurants. They were members of the former Greenville Country Club and enjoyed golfing several times a week. They were members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and members of the church choir for more than twenty years.

Merton served on Church Council and was treasurer of the Community Food Pantry. He was a 25-year member and past president of Greenville Kiwanis Club and a 35-year member of American Legion Post 0140.

Merton was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2016; his parents; a brother, Malcolm Hutton; a sister, Marjorie Hutton Dershimer; and nephew Dale Dershimer.

He is survived by a daughter, Dorothy Norris and husband Tim of Langhorne, PA; a son, George Hutton and wife Renee of Pennington, NJ; stepsons John Stegkamper and wife Renee of Goodyear, AZ, James Stegkamper and wife Doralisa of Kissimmee, FL, and Jerry Stegkamper and wife Karen of Greenville; nephew Drew Dershimer of Greenville; granddaughters Rachel Norris, Kate Norris, Amanda Spuler, Brooke Renwick, Hope Leininger, Mary Stegkamper, and Analesa Stegkamper; great-granddaughters Tillee Renwick and Wrenlee Renwick; and great-grandsons Graham Leininger and Corwin Turndorf.

Services:

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, 12/20/24 at 11:00 AM in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 Trinity Place Greenville, with Rev. Brenda Martin, Pastor of the Church, officiating. Family and friends will be received on Friday, 12/20/24, in The Hospitality Room of the church from 9:45 – 10:45 AM. Inurnment with Committal Prayers followed by Military Honors rendered by Greenville American Legion Post #140 Honor Guard will be in Shenango Valley Cemetery.

Online visitors are welcome to sign the guest book at www.loutzenhiserfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St. Greenville.