William Roy Hutchinson

Mr. William Roy Hutchinson, a native of Mobile, AL and a resident of Long Beach for 44 years, passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2013. He was 84 years old.Mr. Hutchinson was a veteran of U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force, having served at the end of World War II and throughout the Korean conflict, serving at several overseas locations for six years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Long Beach and served as a Bible teacher, deacon, trustee and committee member for many years. He was a life member of the American Legion Post 1995 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3937, both in Long Beach. After military service, he remained in Federal Civil Service at Pensacola NAS, FL; Brookley AFB, AL; and Keesler AFB, MS in various communication organizations. He retired after 40 years with many achievement awards including the Air Force Civilian Meritorious Service Medal. After retirement he was employed for more than 20 years by two major local funeral homes. Mr. Hutchinson was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund Earl Hutchinson and Rose Anna Elisar Hutchinson; his brother, Captain Arthur Earl Hutchinson (USAF/MIA Korea); his son, Eric William Hutchinson; his father-in-law, John T. Lucas, Sr. and his mother-in-law, Bernice E. Alexander Lucas. He is survived by his faithful wife of 64 years, Jacqueline Bernice Lucas Hutchinson; four sons, Arthur E. Hutchinson (Sandra) of Prairieville, LA, John L. Hutchinson (Nancy) of Pensacola, FL, Michael E. Hutchinson (Virginia Lynn), on an overseas assignment; Paul B. Hutchinson (Marilyn) of Nolensville, TN; a sister, Ella of Orange Beach, AL; eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. Funeral services will be Friday, September 6, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. LaRue Stephens officiating. Burial will follow at the Long Beach City Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Long Beach First Baptist Church “This Church Rising” Fund, P.O. Box 338, Long Beach, MS 39560.