Donald T. Hutchins

Donald Thomas Hutchins of La Junta died August 15, 2015 of cancer at his home between La Junta and Swink


Don was the middle child of Walter Hutchins and Virginia Pearl (Prough) Hutchins. He was born May 25, 1939 at the home of his parents near Fort Lyon, Colorado. For first through eighth grades Don attended Rixey School not far from his parents home in Fort Lyon. For high school Don attended Bent County High School in Las Animas, graduating in 1957.


During the summers of his school years Don worked for the Spady brothers in the hay fields and building reclamation dams near Wray Colorado. After graduation he found work on a highway construction crew near McClave, and then near Springfield, CO. Later he was able to secure another highway construction job closer to home in Las Animas Co. However, work soon stopped when this crew went on strike. As a lifelong union man, he went on strike as well, and refused to cross the picket lines. Don’s brother William (Bill) worked for the Santa Fe railroad, and knew they were hiring trainmen. Don applied for and was hired into the train service at La Junta, CO in July 1959.


Don married his first wife Laura Ormiston of Pritchet in September 1959. They had two children Kenneth and Vicki in La Junta. Don and Laura later divorced. A few years later Don met and married Jane Girton of Gage, Oklahoma. She was working as CSU cooperative extension agent for Bent County out of Las Animas, Colorado. They were married June 4,1972, and began building their house between La Junta and Swink. In 1975 they welcomed a son into their family.


As is fitting, a life long union man, Don served as a union representative, and for many years as local chairman for the United Transportation Union. He represented the interest of La Junta’s trainmen at the national level several times. Don truly believed in the union values and considered it a matter of pride that he never crossed a picket line, no matter who was on strike.


In addition to his 43 year career on the Santa Fe Railroad, Don established an insulation business with his wife Jane. During the construction of their current house they had trouble getting someone to install insulation. Always on the lookout for opportunities, a business was created to fill this niche and Empire Insulation was born in 1972. In between railroad trips he would insulate houses. Eventually working on a good percentage of the custom homes in the Arkansas Valley.


In 1978 Don was bitten by the aviation bug and earned his private pilot license. Don purchased his first airplane, a Cessna 172 to take his flying lessons. Over the years Don earned additional ratings including Instrument, commercial and instructor. Along with the additional ratings came newer, faster airplanes, beginning with upgrading the Cessna 172 to a Cessna 182 finally and finally to a Cessna Turbo 210. Using these airplanes he flew on vacation all over the United States including memorable family trips to Alaska, Nashville, California, Iowa, South Dakota and a houseboat on Lake Powell. International destinations in Canada and fishing trips to Mexico.


Don has been a member of many community organizations. He began his association with the masonic organization as a young man in Demolay. Culminating his Demolay experience by performing his duties as a Master Councilor. As an adult Don joined the Masonic Lodge in Las Animas eventually becoming a Master Mason in the Blue Lodge, and later joining the Al Kaly Shrine. He recently received his 50 year pin honoring his years of service. He was active in and a life member of the La Junta Elks Lodge B.P.O.E 701. He was elected Key Man by the Koshare Indian Dancers Boy Scout Troop 232 in La Junta.


Don was preceded in death by his parents, two older brothers, William of La Junta and James of Pueblo, a half brother Walter of Fort Lyon, mother-in-law Carrie (Steinle) Girton, father-in-law Leon Walter Girton of Gage, Oklahoma, sister-in-law, Julianna Keeble of Coppell, Texas, brother-in-laws Gary Girton of Gage, Oklahoma, Paul Sanchez of Salida, and daughter-in-law Barbara Hutchins of Rocky Ford. Don is survived by his wife, Jane (Girton) Hutchins of La Junta and children, Vicki (Hutchins) Hall of Springfield, Kenneth Hutchins of Rocky Ford, and Donald Hutchins of Aurora, brother Frank Hutchins of Dallas City, Illinois, sister Dorothy (Hutchins) Sanchez of Salida, three sisters-in-laws, Beverly Hutchins of La Junta, Kathryn Hutchins of Pueblo, Holly Hutchins of Dallas City, Illinois, Sandi Girton of Gage, Oklahoma, and brother-in-law, Larry Girton of Gage, Oklahoma son-in-law Bill Hall of Springfield, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.


In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Arkansas Valley Hospice, La Junta, United Methodist Church, or the charity of your choice.


Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.





Funeral services will be held Friday, August 21, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel, 401 Raton Ave. La Junta. Followed by interment at Bent County Cemetery, 2802 County Road 10-3/4, in Las Animas.