John L. Dutton, age 87, of Weems, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. John was born on August 2, 1938, to the late Ray and Velma Whetfield Dutton in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “Life is what happens as you make other plans.” John attended Concordia University–River Forest and graduated with a degree in education. John was the founding headmaster of Germantown Lutheran Academy. Next, he worked in management for the Aid Association for Lutherans. Finally, he worked in management for The Points of Light Foundation, a national volunteer organization. He was the author of the book, “How to Be an Outstanding Speaker: Eight Secrets to Speaking Success.” He was a board member for the James E. Dutton Foundation, a charitable foundation providing financial support to organizations working on projects which benefit wildlife, animal causes, environmental preservation, and outdoors education. He was the president of The Bay Center–Aging with Intention. He volunteered at the food pantry in White Stone, Virginia. He was a lifelong lover of dogs, the water and boats, and tinkering—there wasn’t a project big or small that he didn’t take on with his trusty toolbelt. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn, and his stepson, Andrew Asher, and his wife, Catherine, and their children, Kendall and Delaney Asher, and his stepdaughter, Angela Asher, and her son, Dominic Giaccone; his son, John II, and his wife, Elise, and their two children, John “Jack” and Brooke; his sister-in-law, Ellen Davidson, and her husband, Tom; his beloved dogs, Ailee, Mickey, and Eris. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Grace on Main Presbyterian Church in Gloucester, Virginia, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 2 p.m., conducted by Pastor Jesse Hill. The inurnment will be private. In memory of John, contributions may be made to your local SPCA.

Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home & Crematory.