William C. Tuthill, First Sgt, U. S. Army, Ret.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 2:12 PM CST
Bill Tuthill died of leukemia at his home in Adelphi, MD on December 20, 2008. Bill was born in Menomonie, Wl on September 28,1923. He was the son of Addison C. Tuthill and Emily Young Tuthill. He is survived by his wife Anna Tuthill and daughters, Ciaudia (George) Knobloch, Mary (John) Rohan and Anna Marie Westernik. Bill was the grandfather of Denise and Marcia Rohan, Nadia and Roman Westenuk, Ernest Renkert, Angela Renkert Pohja, Molly Swenson , Betsy Bossert, Charles Knobloch, John Knobloch and George Knobloch. Bill was also the great-grandfather of Niko, Liljah, Mae and Max. Bill is survived by brother Lawrence (Lois) of Madison, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Richard (Dick) Tuthill and sister Edah Mae Thompson.
Bill spent his youth in Cedar Falls where he attended the great Cedar Falls State Graded School and on occasion attended Sunday school at the Methodist Church which for a time was led by a stern minister named Rev. Bushendorf. Of course in those depression days the three "Rs" and Sunday school were important—but, not everything. Bill also, enjoyed Saturday night wedding dances at the "400" club and the "fun" at "the lakes" with the "Hovind Boys" (Lyle and Eldon) and old friend Art Maves.
After graduation from MHS in 1941 Bill enlisted in the Army and started a 28 year career in the Medical Corps. He served in WWII where he spent 19 days pinned down on the beach of Iwo Jima (Bronze Star Award), with a MASH unit in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War (Bronze Star #2). Bill retired from the Army in 1970 but stayed on at Walter Reed Army Hospital as a civilian employee until 1989, and as a Red Cross Volunteer to 2007. Bill was known as "Mr. Reed" at the hospital and was honored with a parade and a presentation of a flag flown over the post on October 10, 2008.
The visitation and service were held at the Collins Funeral Home, Silver Springs, MD. Interment for the "Old Soldier" will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, January 8,2009 at 2 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher House Foundation to help families of our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. The address of Fisher House is 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852. Their wfibsite is www.fisherhouse.org. Bill saw our wounded men and women up close and personal and was honored to be a small part of their healing process.
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