Thutt, B. Frank (1873-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jul 20 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

LONG-TIME PHYSICIAN AT ELIDA, OHIO CALLED BY DEATH

Bluffton, Ohio. — Dr. B. F. Thutt, 87, practicing physician at Elida, Ohio for many years before his retirement seven years ago, died July 6 at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Edgar L. Schumacher in Cleveland.

Dr. Thutt was president of the Farmers Bank of Elida. He formerly served on the Bluffton College Board of Trustees, and at one time taught at Goshen College.

Funeral services were held at Amherst, O. and in the First Methodist Church of Elida.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Aug 31 p. 10

text of obituary:

Doctor Practiced in Ohio Community Nearly 50 Years

From a tribute written by Mrs. Lydia Shank, Goshen, Ind.

A LARGE gathering of community residents took place at the First Methodist Church, Elida, Ohio, on July 9 when funeral services were conducted for Dr. B. Frank Thutt, widely known and respected physician there for nearly half a century.

Dr. B. F. Thutt in his office. He died July 6 at Amherst, Ohio where he had lived in retirement the past few years.

The funeral brought together a wide variety of people, many of them former patients of Dr. Thutt, in tribute to one who had served them well. Relatives and friends, some of whom had not seen each other for half a century, gathered to show their respect and appreciation.

Born Sept. 19, 1873, at Bluffton, Ohio,the son of Peter and Mary (Steiner0 Thutt, H. F. Thutt attended public school in Hancock County, Ohio, and taught school there for six years. He received his A. B. degree from Ohio Northern University in 1902, after which he did a year of graduate study at the University of Chicago.

He taught science at Goshen College for two years before entering medical school at the University of Toledo. He began his practice at Elida in 1910, and received his 50-year honor pin last year from the American Medical Association.

*                     *                     * Helped Establish Bank

AS one of the founders of the Farmers Bank of Elida in 1919, Dr. Thutt continued to serve as a director of the bank until his death. He was president of the bank the last 27 years of his life. For many years he served on the board of trustees of Bluffton College, where his children also attended.

He was married to Mayme Stutzman in 1899, and they became parents of four children: Kathryn, Mrs. Edwin Shuacker [sic Schumacher], Richard F., Robert P., and Helen, Mrs. Dean Alogren[sic Almgren]. After his first wife's death in 1918 he married her sister,Salome. A son, John O. was born to them. His second wife died in 1935.

Dr. Thutt was a long-time member of the Methodist Church in Elida, where he taught a Sunday school class of married women for many years.

In his younger years, he served as chorister in both church and Sunday school. In John Umble's "Ohio Mennonite Sunday Schools," he mentions B. F. Thutt among others who served as choristers at an annual Mennonite Sunday School union of Allen,Putnam and Hancock counties.

*                     *                     * More Than A Physician

FRIENDS, former patients, and professional associates all paid tribute to the unusual qualities of spirit which characterized Dr. Thutt's life.

In a memorial service at Amherst, Ohio, Dr. Guy Moyer referred to him as one who was "more than a physician . . . he discovered that the broken-hearted must be healed before the body can be healed."

As friends gathered for the service at Elida, remarks such as these were heard: "Outside of my family, Dr. Thutt was my best friend" . . . "He brought me into this world 49 years ago, and he always called me one of his boys," and "He would always lay his hands on you."

His children recall his ability to quote poetry, his appreciation of nature, knowledge of Scripture, his keen observations on the world about him, and especially his love for people.

Because of his cheerful, penetrating personality, a visit with Dr. Thutt was anticipated with joy. One knew that something interesting was going to be said; something to make one happy; something to remember; something to help one live on a higher plane. His life was best characterized by the familiar words of Micah 6:8.

The body was laid to rest in Hassan Cemetery at New Stark, where Rev. Andrew Brenneman of Elida, a lifelong friend, conducted the graveside service.