Millard M. Kutch

Millard Maurice Kutch passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2015 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Ringgold, Texas on September 22, 1922to Reginald and Willie Schoffner Kutch. Millard grew up in Ringgold, Texas and worked on his family’s farm during the Great Depression. He played basketball and graduated from Ringgold High School.

Millard was one of the Greatest Generation and entered the U.S. Marine Corps on February 14, 1942. He served in the Pacific and was engaged in combat on Tarawa (Gilbert Islands), Saipan (Marianas Islands), Tinian (Marianas Islands), and Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands). He received the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa Gilbert Islands from November 20 – 24, 1943.

Millard was honorably discharged at the rank of Sargent on February 15, 1946 before returning home to Austin, Texas. In Austin he met his wife of 64 years, Margaret Edna Leifeste and was married on May 24, 1948 at University Methodist Church. She preceded him in death on February 24, 2012.

Millard went to college on the GI Bill graduating from Austin Community College with a degree in accounting. He worked for 36 years in Houston for Vector Cable, a division of Schlumberger as a senior sales engineer; noted for working on the cable tow project for the U.S. Navy submarines. He retired in 1982 from Vector Cable.

Millard is survived by his sons Gary, Glen and wife Cindy, Robert and wife Susan; grandchildren Andy and wife Karla, Mike, Gabe and wife Lauren, Justin and wife Heather, Eric and wife Allison, and Kirsten; great-grandchildren Mikayla and husband Mikey, Luke, Cayden, Jaxon, and Skylar.