Chaplain (Col.) Robert Hutcherson, Usa, Ret.

Chaplain Robert A. Hutcherson, USA, Ret., age 80, of Copperas Cove, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2019, in Temple. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, January 2, 2020, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Dr. Mark Kemp officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Robert A. Hutcherson was born on April 6, 1939, in Sardis, Mississippi, and grew up in Brookhaven, Mississippi, where he graduated from high school. Following one year of college, he enlisted in the United States Army and served tours of duty in both the United States and Europe. He married Mary Davis on February 9, 1962, in Brookhaven Mississippi.

Following his enlisted Army service Chaplain Hutcherson graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Upon graduation from college he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. Immediately after receiving his undergraduate degree he entered the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. From that institution he received a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in pastoral theology.

His military education includes attendance at, and graduation from, the US Army Chaplain Basic and Advanced Courses as well as the Army Command General Staff College and Army War College.

After serving briefly as pastor of two churches, Chaplain Hutcherson returned to active duty service in the US Army as a chaplain. He served in a variety of different troop assignments over his first twenty years of chaplain service, choosing primarily infantry and armor battalions and brigades. He served as Division Chaplain in the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia with additional duty as Command Chaplain for US Army Forces in Somalia. His overseas assignments were in France, Germany, Korea, Somalia, and Panama.

Following his assignment with the 10th Mountain Division he served on the staff of the US Army War College and as Command Chaplain US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Quarry Heights, Panama. In this position he initiated the annual Latin American Chaplains Ethics Conference at the US Army Chaplain School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. This program provides the opportunity for selected senior military chaplains from Central and South America to attend a one-week conference on professional and military ethics based on the US Army ethic model.

Chaplain Hutcherson’s awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one Campaign Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Joint Service Meritorious Unit Award; Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and the Overseas Service Ribbon with the numeral 4.

Chaplain Hutcherson’s final assignment was as Installation Chaplain, Fort Hood, Texas. Chaplain Hutcherson retired from the US Army after more than 37 years of enlisted and commissioned service. In retirement he made his home in Copperas Cove, Texas with his wife, Mary. He has worked as a volunteer advisor on military chaplaincy to Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) and sat as a founding member of the BGCT chaplaincy endorsing council. His hobbies include the study of history, writing, gardening, and community volunteer work.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, Copperas Cove, Texas, and taught the Serving Seniors Sunday School Class for ten years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Louise Hutcherson; one sister, Stella; and four brothers, Dale, Gary, William, and Edward.

Chaplain Hutcherson is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary; daughters, Cindy Hutcherson and Suzanne Hutcherson, both of Copperas Cove, Texas; grandsons, Kyle White of Waco, Texas and Bryan Karns of Denton, Texas; two sisters, Bettye Smith and Bonnie Wallace of Brookhaven, Mississippi; two brothers, Harry Hutcherson of New Orleans, Louisiana and Lyn Hutcherson of Hazlehurst, Mississippi.