Donna Lynn Hutchings

Early on January 9th Donna Hutchings, known around Austin as Donna Utsler quietly left this realm. Some 81 years ago she was born in Dallas to Chester Hale and Winona Stewart. After some family shuffling Donna ended up in San Antonio with her mother Winona and her stepfather John Vitkovitz. She graduated from John Marshall High School and was a cheerleader there, then moved North to attend Southwestern University. She joined the Strutters cheer team and while there met her first husband William Utsler.

Bill and Donna married in March of 1964 in Houston where Bill was working and had their son Darrell and later in 1967 their daughter Shannon. By 1973 Donna had moved to Austin with the kids to work at the IRS while Bill was working in South Texas. They divorced in 1974.

Donna started over, first by joining the crew at Zachary Scott Theatre and playing Agnes Gooch in Antie Mame. Her review in the Statesman said she provided the funniest lines of the play. She always had a comical streak on stage or off. She continued working in the theatre, and as stage manager came in contact with the set designer James “Hutch” Hutchings who would be her companion for the next 51 years. Donna changed jobs to work three years at a retail men’s store as the accountant and buyer. Taking her buying experience she became a purchasing agent at Texas Instruments. This type of job would be her lifelong occupation working at TI, Tokyo Electron, and BAE as a professional buyer.

Donna and Hutch moved into a starter home in Northeast Austin to raise her interests expanded to crafting, macrame, and took up new hobbies like tole painting. She became a member of the Society of Decorative Painters and over the years attended the national conventions in various cities to hone her skills and gather ideas. Donna also went about finishing her degree from Southwestern University and graduated in December of 1980. That year was eventful because on August tenth late in the day there was a loud bang. Rushing to the front door she realized that her car in the driveway was not there. Her car had been hit by a teen driver who lost control of his vehicle on a rainy street and slid into hers. Waiting on porch for police she saw a tornado form at the end of the street taking the roof off of an apartment building then moving on the Mueller Airport to do 240 million dollars in damage to private planes there. Donna’s reaction was priceless. She had Hutch go buy a pack of cigarettes and although she had not smoked for years, she smoked two cigarettes that day then quit again forever. Donna’s son Darrell graduated from LBJ High School, joined the Marines, and started his family. Shannon moved on also to start her life.

In August of 1984 Donna and Hutch bought a new home in Wells Branch where she could expand her evolving interests to puzzles, reading extensively, auctions and not cooking. Never a social extrovert Donna settled down to work and home projects but also started her own Interior Decoration business where she could use her artistic talents. Constantly looking for ideas she read Martha Stewart decorating, cut out various recipes, and read mysteries by Sue Grafton, J.D.Robb, and Kathy Reichs for excitement.

In August 1991 Donna lost her son Darrell in an accident in Arlington Texas where he was stationed leaving his wife Nina and four-year-old daughter Kaitlin without support. Donna’s grief over Darrell's death was intense and lasted for the rest of her life.

The couple developed a hobby that added travel to this time by winning local contests which gave them trips to over twenty different locations like New Mexico, Washington DC, Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, and to visit Shannon who had joined the Navy in Okinawa Japan. The trips were filled with fun, food, and new adventures like snowmobiling, white water rafting, and sightseeing.

In 2000 Donna composed an email at her desk and sent it to Hutch that simply stated “Let’s Get Married” in her straightforward way of addressing whatever she wanted. Donna and James married in the clubhouse in Wells Branch with friends and family on February 19th,2000. The couple honeymooned in Canada on the Rocky Mountaineer and on Vancouver Island watching Orcas.

Over the years Donna has always had a connection with numerous pets as a part of her joy. Dogs, cats, birds and ferrets have brightened her days and caused her to weep at their passing. Yorkies, strays, or kittens were welcomed and loved without exception.

By 2008 Shannon had reached 20 years in the Navy, acquired a young son Cody, and after a short Job in New Mexico moved back to Austin. Donna’s existing family had finally come home and she was elated. Shannon settled in and found love, married, and added two grandchildren for Donna to love.

In 2012 James and Donna retired from the working life to home life having great meals, checking out media or her Pinterest account where she still pursued decorative and artistic items, and anything she could find at bargain prices at auctions. Always a negotiator she was a dedicated buyer every day of her life.

About four years ago Donna took a fall that left her partially disabled and limited her activities but never squashed her quick wit. Her life was one of some sacrifice, and a quilt of working professionalism, enthusiasm of purpose, comic relief, and above all friendliness.

Donna is preceded by her parents Stepfather John Vitkovits, mother Winona Vitkovits, her beloved son Darrell, her former husband Bill Utsler, her half-sister Victoria Pate, and her father Chester Hale.

She is survived by her husband James Hutchings, her daughter Shannon Letchford and her husband Micah Letchford, grandchildren Cody Utsler and his wife Rayna Utsler, Logan Letchford, Morgan Rei Letchford, and Darrell's daughter Caitlin Utsler. And last in line we find great grandson Aiden Utsler.

A memorial service will be held at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, located at 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas, 78660. The service is scheduled for January 24, 2026, starting at 11:00 am.