Eugene H. “Joe” Sutton, 73, of Crystal River, Florida, passed away on March 31, 2018 at Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast Hospice House in Lecanto, FL. A native of Clarksburg, W. Va., he was born May 5, 1944 to Eugene Hamilton Sr. and Barbara Irene (Dulin) Sutton, one of two children. Joe, as he was known to many, moved to St. Petersburg, Florida as a boy in 1950, as his father was a foot doctor for the St. Louis Cardinals. He attended schools in Pinellas Park and the Lealman area of St. Petersburg and then completed Emergency Medical Technician training at St. Petersburg College. Joe was employed by Dairy-Mix, Inc., first as a plant worker and driver, then retiring as plant manager after a 37 year career. Mr. Sutton also served with the Lealman Fire Company in Pinellas County for 18 years, serving as fireman and EMT and attaining the rank of Captain. He was also a training officer and member of the Board. Joe also drove a school bus in Pinellas County for 7 years. Joe served his country honorably and proudly on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1963-1966 and then as a reservist from 1966-1969. Sgt. Sutton was a survivor of the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam, a battle that was historically told in the movie “We Were Soldiers”. Sgt. Sutton was an expert marksman (rifle) and earned the Combat Infantryman’s badge. As a member of the 8th Army Rifle Team, Sgt. Sutton competed in the USARPAC Matches held in Hawaii in 1964. Joe retired in 2005 and moved to Ozello, Florida, where the family had a weekend vacation home that he built with the help of friends. Joe was an avid fisherman, SCUBA diver, snorkeler and airboater. He will be greatly missed by his family and Ozello community friends, especially since he was a member of the Island Outpost morning male bonding coffee klatch. He is survived by his wife Barbara; son Troy Sutton and his wife Amanda; nephew Brian Hayes and his wife Dawn; great nephew Jakes Hayes; sister-in-law Marilu Carter and her two sons, Danny and Dubois Danmole. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Penny Sue Sutton Hayes. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at the Ozello Island Church, on Sat., April 21, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Jim Roper officiating. Military honors will also be rendered by the Florida Army National Guard and a repast will follow in the fellowship hall. No flowers please. If you wish, you may make memorial contributions to Ozello Island Church; Metropolitan Ministries; Shriner’s Hospital for Children; Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast or Wounded Warrior Project. Services entrusted to Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, Florida. www.wilderfuneral.com
