Robert Dutcher

DUTCHER, Robert Guy - age 83 of Swartz Creek, died December 26, 2022. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, December 30, 2022, at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek with Pastor Larry Rednower officiating. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 6-8 PM Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Great Lakes National Cemetery at 10:30 AM Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers or American Cancer Society. Robert was born on August 24, 1939, in his grandparents' home in Detroit to Harvey Guy and Geraldine (Edmonds) Dutcher. He started working on the farm at 13 years old and graduated from Corunna High school in 1957. Robert served in the Marine Corps from July 2,1957 until September 30, 1960. He asked for missile electronic school but was not offered schooling, so he discharged. Robert returned home and worked on widening M13 and as an orderly in the Corunna nursing home. He married Shirley in 1960 and shortly thereafter began their family with four children. Robert began working at General Motors on September 9, 1961 and served his apprenticeship in Pipe Fitting & Plumbing in 1965.  Robert worked 36 years with General Motors at Ternstedt on Coldwater Road in Flint and was a member of UAW Local 326. Robert graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in social work in 1986 and spent that last 15 years of employment at GM as a social worker in the Employee Assistance Program (EPA) helping people. Robert would work overtime beginning at 4 am with pipe fitting until his regular job began for the day at 8 am to 4 pm. He volunteered for 10 years teaching smoking cessation classes for ACS and volunteered to teach people how to run the smoking cessation classes until someone from Insight took it over. He stood up for equal rights for all people throughout his life beginning in the 1960s. His sobriety journey began December 9, 1979, and he became a beacon of strength and hope for all those around him who struggled with addiction. He was able to help hundreds of people around the Flint area get treatment to overcome addiction. He soon married Karen in 1980 and had two more girls. Robert loved golfing and was a part of a golf league for 36 years at IMA Brookwood Golf Course. His favorite hobby was making stained glass pictures, lamps, window pieces, or fireplace decorations for those he loved. He was there for everyone in his life no matter what they needed help with. If anyone called him, he stopped what he was doing to be right there. His absolute favorite pastime was spending time with his family and very large extended Edmonds family. We spent many hours playing Rook tournaments and poker games. He lived a full life of kindness and grace. He’s loved a thousand times over by his family and friends. Robert is survived by his children Debbie (Dan) Gilbert of Tennessee, son-in-law Mike Helton, Darlene (Norma) Dutcher of Florida, Robert (Jackie) Dutcher of Florida, Anna (Jeremy) Glasstetter of Michigan, and Krista Dutcher of Michigan. Grandchildren JD, CJ (Chelsea) and Dugan (Destiny) Gilbert, Alex (Jessica) Jackson, Stephanie (Beth) Kofron, Rebecca (Josh) Davidson, Robert Glasstetter, and Jacqueline Dutcher. 11 Great Grandchildren, siblings Nancy Dennis, Arlene Henderson, Jean Switzer, sister-in-law Pearl Dutcher, and Gerald (Kelly) Dutcher. Several loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Harvey and Geraldine, daughter, Jacqueline Helton, three grand babies Lawnie, Tyler, and Andrew, brothers Harvey and David Dutcher, sister Diantha Dutcher, brother-in- law PJ Dennis, Several Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.