Richard Gary Hutchings

At the age of 71, Richard Gary Hutchings returned to the arms of his Lord on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Rich will be deeply missed by his twin brother James Douglas Hutchings of Sarnia, his dear friend Jill (Thompson) Pysarczyk of Niagara Falls, ON and 17 cousins all in the United States. Rich is predeceased by his parents Harold John “Jack” Hutchings (2002) and Bernice Marie (Laszyca) Hutchings (2009); and by cousins Cynthia Lee (Markiw) Sutt (2014), Debbie White (2021) and Valerie Eisemann (2026).

Born in Tecumseh, Michigan, Rich lived on the family farm near Clinton, Michigan before moving with his family to Sarnia in 1967, at the age of 12. Graduating from the Radio, Television and Journalism Arts program at Lambton College in 1977, Rich subsequently was a newspaper reporter/photographer and editor for many years. He worked at several weekly newspapers in the Niagara Peninsula including The St. Catharines Courier; The Niagara Advance in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON; The Independent in Grimsby, ON; the Lincoln Post-Express in Beamsville, ON; and the Fort Erie Times-Review. He also worked at the Advertiser-Topic in Petrolia, ON. After leaving journalism, Rich attended the Ontario Bible College obtaining a Bachelor of Religious Studies degree in 1995, and Ontario Theological Seminary, obtaining a Master of Divinity degree in 1998. After returning to Sarnia in 2000, Rich became a member of New Horizons Community Church of Sarnia and got a job as a Personal Support Worker at Christian Horizons, where he worked for 19 years until May 2020, when he retired.

Cremation has taken place. Family and friends will be received on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 1pm at New Horizons Community Church of Sarnia, 383 Russel St. N., Sarnia. The funeral service will begin at 2pm officiated by Pastor Luke, followed by a light reception. Internment will take place at Lakeview Cemetery later.

Memorial gifts to New Horizons Community Church of Sarnia or the Canadian Diabetes Association at https://www.diabetes.ca/  would be appreciated by the family.

Arrangements are entrusted to the D. J. Robb Funeral Home & Cremation Centre (102 N. Victoria St, Sarnia, ON, N7T 5W9). Memories and messages of condolence may be sent through www.djrobb.on.ca