Judith W. Tuttle Dies At 85

Judith W. Tuttle

Judith Warner Tuttle of Reading and formerly of Eastport died following emergency surgery at Reading Hospital on Monday, February 13. She would have celebrated her 86th birthday on Saturday, February 18.

Ms. Tuttle was born at home in Eastport in 1926, the fifth of seven children of Daniel Dudley Warner and Edith Victoria Warner (nèe Dixon). Following graduation from the local schools, she worked as a secretary and then attended Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. During World War II she found work at the Suffolk County Air Force Base in Westhampton Beach, and then moved to Ithaca and became secretary to a Cornell University psychologist.

Meanwhile, her hometown love, Lloyd Tuttle was attending Yale University, and following his graduation in 1951, they were married. Three years later came the fortuitous call to the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Tuttle was to be chair of the music department, and master at the console of the beautiful chapel pipe organ.

For 35 years the Tuttles were very much a part of the academic, social and athletic scene at the Hill, enjoying their life and making many friends. Ms. Tuttle was a great partner in her husband’s musical endeavors, and both were popular with the students and colleagues. She was a welcome chaperone when the Hilltones, an informal singing group made their annual trips within and outside the U.S., performing for enthusiastic audiences. The Tuttles also enjoyed their own travels overseas.

The cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee was their little bit of paradise to which they came every summer. They loved sharing it and Ms. Tuttle had already “booked” guests for the 2012 season.

When Mr. Tuttle retired from the Hill in 1989, Ms. Tuttle left her job as salesperson for the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce in Pottstown and as an assistant in the Hill School library, and they moved to Flying Hills in Reading. They had a few short trips, and filled some of their time with volunteer work at the Reading Rehab Hospital, Habitat for Humanity and Meals-on-Wheels.

When Mr. Tuttle died of Parkinson’s disease in 1997, she began volunteer work in earnest: preparing food and gifts for distribution by the Salvation Army during Thanksgiving and Christmas; wrapping Christmas gifts; working at the library; nine years volunteering as an assistant in an ESL program; transporting people to doctors’ appointments, knitting baby caps for Reading Hospital.

Established in 1998 through gifts to the Hill School in memory of Lloyd B. Tuttle, the Tuttle Vocal Music Scholarship Fund awards a sixth form, senior, vocalist each year.

Ms. Tuttle was always cheerful and full of life. She enjoyed attending concerts, taking trips, entertaining at supper, lunching out, visiting and calling friends, boating, picnicking, kayaking, blueberry picking, reading and exercising regularly at the gym. She skied at Vail on her 80th birthday, and only gave up that sport at age 83. Her extended family was always happy to be in her company, survivors said.

Ms. Tuttle is survived by her children, Warner Blake Tuttle and his wife Melissa of New Hampshire, Tracy Judith Tuttle of New Hampshire; and sisters, Joyce Kelley of Eastport and Justine Wells of Riverhead.

Memorial donations may be made to the Tuttle Vocal Music Scholarship Fund, Office of Advancement, c/o Mr. Christian Sockel, the Hill School, 717 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464.

A memorial service will be held at the Hill School chapel on Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow.