Obituary of Edward J. Tuttle

Edward J. Tuttle 72, of Gray, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2010, surrounded by family at Central Maine Medical Center, after a serious illness. Ed was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1937, the son of Edward John Tuttle and Charlotte Trickel. After attending schools in Parma, Ohio, he enlisted in the Navy in 1956. His naval career began at the Great Lakes Training Center. He was then stationed briefly in Jacksonville Florida before being transferred to N.A.S. Brunswick, Maine. It was while stationed in Brunswick that he met and married Gerry Genthner of Topsham, Me. in June 1958. A union that lasted 52 years. During his 24 year naval career he was also stationed at N.A.S. Willow Grove PA, deployed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. America, and was a reservists at U.S.N. So. Weymouth, Ma. He was in VP23 &VP11. He traveled to the Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Denmark, The Mediterranean, Iceland and circled the north pole. After retiring from the Navy at the rank of Chief, Ed was employed at ITT Autowise as a computer programmer and later worked as the Safety Director for Bills Oil and J & S Oil in Manchester, ME. Ed was a Mason for 50 years. He was a member of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Maine, the Casco Lodge #36 A.F. & A.M. in Yarmouth, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Lodge Council Chapter Consistory Valley of Portland, and Montgomery & St. Bernard R.A.C. No.2 Bath Maine. He was an avid reader and a WWII history buff. He enjoyed building model planes and anything to do with military aeronautics. Ed enjoyed camping and could be seen tending to the campfire for hours at a time. He also spent many years motorcycling with his wife and friends, taking numerous cross country trips. He loved to spend time with his daughters and granddaughter. He was predeceased by his mother Charlotte Trickel, and brother Ralph Tuttle. He is survived by his wife Gerry, his daughters Sherri Lee Tuttle and Rebecca Tuttle; his granddaughter Chelsey Nicole Tuttle Ditomaso, all of Gray; sisters, Pat Renzenbrink, Shirley Wood, and Sandra Mickalakes, all of Ohio, and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, June 17 at the United Baptist Church, Main Street and Elm, Topsham, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Maine, 470 Forest Ave. Portland, Me. 04101.