Ronald Hutchinson

Ronald Colman Hutchinson passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Autumn Care of Biscoe.

Ronny was born on October 8, 1940, in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. He was the fifth child of Duncan Alexander Hutchinson, Sr. and Catherine McKay Hutchinson. During high school, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and excelled in both basketball and football. He graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1959 and went on to graduate from Wilmington College in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1965. He served in the North Carolina Army National Guard.

Following college, Ronny was employed by and part owner of Atlas Distributing Company in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1981, he and his family moved to New Bern, North Carolina, where they opened a new business, Hutchinson Tire and Appliance, with locations in New Bern, Havelock, and Morehead City.  Later in life, he became a part owner and operator of family-owned Hutchinson Farms, a livestock and timber farm in Bladen County. Ronny was a lifelong Presbyterian church member, most recently a member of his original church, Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church.

Ronny was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Duncan Alexander Hutchinson, Jr. and James McRae Hutchinson; and two nephews, David Bourne and Hamp Waters.

Ronny is survived by his wife, Gail McRae Hutchinson; his daughter, Martha Elizabeth (Beth) Hutchinson Tilley, and her husband, Brian Tilley, of Troy; his sisters, Emilia H. Barksdale of Kansas City, Missouri, and Catherine H. Waters of Washington, North Carolina; his brothers-in-law, Gary McRae and wife Kat of Mt. Gilead, and Jimmy McRae and wife Kathy of Mt. Gilead; and his sister-in-law, Sandra M. Harris and husband Dennis of Charlotte; and niece Stephanie McRae Greenfield (Zachary).

He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews: Duncan Hutchinson of Apex; Anne Lloyd Summerlin of Supply; Robert Bourne (Barbie) of Flower Mound, Texas; Kemp Weise (Tom) of Kansas City, Missouri; Lori Bourne of Raleigh; Malinda Craven of Fayetteville; Susan Hutchinson of Chapel Hill; McRae Hutchinson; Jay McRae (Jessica) of Mt. Gilead; Will McRae (Susan) of Concord; Branson McRae (Shelly) of Nashville, Tennessee; Courtney Zeiss (Bryan) of Charlotte; and Andrew J. Harris (Emily) of Charlotte. He is also survived by his lifelong friend, Bob Carr of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

A graveside service, officiated by Reverend Chip McAulay, will be held at Zion United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 12th at 4:00pm.  Arrangements are in the care of Edwards Funeral Homes of Mt. Gilead. Memorials can be made to the charity of your choice.

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