In Memory Of
Delbert Ray Tuttle
1933
2023
Delbert Ray Tuttle
April 18, 1933 — August 24, 2023
Delbert R. Tuttle, 90, of Tecumseh, passed away on August 24, 2023 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
On Tuesday morning, April 18, 1933, a baby boy was born to William Ray and Della (Augustine) Tuttle at a little house near 6th Street and Branner in Topeka, Kansas. They named him Delbert Ray. He was the youngest of three brothers.
The family eventually moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he spent much of his childhood.
Shortly before Delbert graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1951, he began dating Evelyn Pankratz. They began attending Westside Baptist Church together and they both came to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. After a few months of dating, SHE proposed to him and on December 23, 1951 they were married at Westside Baptist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas.
In 1953, in order to avoid the draft, Delbert enlisted in the United States Air Force on April Fool's Day and went to Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas. His duties included work as a jet engine mechanic and then he was cross-trained as a munitions systems specialist. His military career took him to bases in Michigan, Japan, Maryland, Greenland, Louisiana, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Turkey, Florida, Texas, California and finally back to Topeka, Kansas, where he retired as a SMSgt (E8) in 1975 after 23½ years of service. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Delbert's second career was with the Kansas Department of Corrections, where he was employed as a Corrections Officer at Topeka Correctional Facility for 27 years before retiring in 2005.
Delbert's hobbies included woodworking and architectural design, which he used to aid several churches with their building projects. He was also used of the Lord in music ministry in many of those same churches. He was most recently a member at Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
His survivors include:
• His beloved wife, Evelyn, whom he has always referred to as "my treasure". (Tecumseh, KS)
They were married 71 years, 8 months and a day—a beautiful example of God's grace!
• Daughter, Delores Sue Spagnuolo [Robert, Sr.] (Topeka, KS)
• Son, Steven Tuttle (Tecumseh, KS)
• Son, Michael Tuttle (Topeka, KS)
• two grandchildren: Robert L. Spagnuolo, Jr. and Jennifer Spagnuolo (Topeka, KS)
• five great grandchildren: Michael, Lacey, Reagan, and Ronin Spagnuolo (Topeka)
Grant Livingston (Wichita, KS)
• one great, great grandson, Jaxson Spagnuolo (Topeka).
Delbert was lovingly invested in the ministry of Reformed Heart Orphans Center in Kenya, East Africa. Memorial contributions may be made to this ministry directly online at: https://oakseed.org/zodonations/reformedheart/ Any contributions collected at the service will also be donated to this ministry.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas. Any other contributions collected at the service will also be donated to the above ministry.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Avenue, is assisting the family with service arrangements.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
On Tuesday morning, April 18, 1933, a baby boy was born to William Ray and Della (Augustine) Tuttle at a little house near 6th Street and Branner in Topeka, Kansas. They named him Delbert Ray. He was the youngest of three brothers.
The family eventually moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he spent much of his childhood.
Shortly before Delbert graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1951, he began dating Evelyn Pankratz. They began attending Westside Baptist Church together and they both came to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. After a few months of dating, SHE proposed to him and on December 23, 1951 they were married at Westside Baptist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas.
In 1953, in order to avoid the draft, Delbert enlisted in the United States Air Force on April Fool's Day and went to Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas. His duties included work as a jet engine mechanic and then he was cross-trained as a munitions systems specialist. His military career took him to bases in Michigan, Japan, Maryland, Greenland, Louisiana, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Turkey, Florida, Texas, California and finally back to Topeka, Kansas, where he retired as a SMSgt (E8) in 1975 after 23½ years of service. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Delbert's second career was with the Kansas Department of Corrections, where he was employed as a Corrections Officer at Topeka Correctional Facility for 27 years before retiring in 2005.
Delbert's hobbies included woodworking and architectural design, which he used to aid several churches with their building projects. He was also used of the Lord in music ministry in many of those same churches. He was most recently a member at Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
His survivors include:
• His beloved wife, Evelyn, whom he has always referred to as "my treasure". (Tecumseh, KS)
They were married 71 years, 8 months and a day—a beautiful example of God's grace!
• Daughter, Delores Sue Spagnuolo [Robert, Sr.] (Topeka, KS)
• Son, Steven Tuttle (Tecumseh, KS)
• Son, Michael Tuttle (Topeka, KS)
• two grandchildren: Robert L. Spagnuolo, Jr. and Jennifer Spagnuolo (Topeka, KS)
• five great grandchildren: Michael, Lacey, Reagan, and Ronin Spagnuolo (Topeka)
Grant Livingston (Wichita, KS)
• one great, great grandson, Jaxson Spagnuolo (Topeka).
Delbert was lovingly invested in the ministry of Reformed Heart Orphans Center in Kenya, East Africa. Memorial contributions may be made to this ministry directly online at: https://oakseed.org/zodonations/reformedheart/ Any contributions collected at the service will also be donated to this ministry.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas. Any other contributions collected at the service will also be donated to the above ministry.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Avenue, is assisting the family with service arrangements.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Delbert Ray Tuttle, please visit our flower store.
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