Edna McConnell Dutton

If someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure. With the passing of Edna McConnell Dutton, we have many treasured memories. Edna is fondly remembered as highly intelligent and inquisitive. She loved music, reading, and playing games. She kept a large notebook for years, where she made notes to assist in her daily crossword puzzles. Whenever someone had a question about an event in history, she could quickly look it up in her notebook and amazingly find the correct answer. She was Google before Google existed. Edna was an avid bridge player and found many opportunities to play throughout her life. She was eagerly involved with her children's and grandchildren's activities and achievements. When her young grandchildren came to the house for a family dinner, she was anxious to finish dinner, so that she could play games with them. Her love of children made teaching an excellent career choice. Edna taught for 22 years with Visalia Unified School District, beginning her career at Elbow Elementary, and ending her career as a Reading Resource Teacher at Houston Elementary School. Edna was born on February 24, 1922, in Douglas AZ, and she passed into life everlasting on December 23, 2020, while living in Ventura CA. Edna spent most of her childhood in Whittier CA, where she graduated high school at the age of 16 and Whittier College in the early 1940's. She later earned a Masters' Degree in Education. Edna and her future husband James "Jimmie" Dutton met at a college dance. Jimmie said to a friend, I want to marry that girl, someday. After her graduation, they became engaged, but their wedding was postponed due to Jimmie's service in the Navy during WWII. They finally decided on a late afternoon wedding, so Jimmie could fly from Chicago to Whittier, on the same day of the wedding. However, Jimmie's plane was delayed due to a snowstorm. Instead of a 4:00 P.M. wedding, the ceremony took place the next morning, November 16, 1942, at 2:00 in the morning. Soon after the wedding, Edna joined the Coast Guard, where she served until the end of the war. The couple settled in the central San Joaquin Valley and lived in Visalia for most of their 50 years together. Edna lived in Visalia until 2013, when she moved to Simi Valley, to live with her daughter. They later settled in Ventura. Edna was predeceased by her husband, James Dutton, and her son William "Bill" Dutton. She is survived by her son John Dutton (Jane), daughter, Marilyn Dresser (Steven-former), 5 grandchildren, Zachary (Devra) Dutton, Sarah (Michal) Yates, Amy (Nick) Keller, Mark Dresser and Eric Dresser, 7 great grandchildren, Grace, Mason, Sylvie, Cora, Justin, Allyson, and Ian.

Edna McConnell Dutton

February 24, 1922 - December 23, 2020