Terry Tuttle

Mr. Terry Wayne Tuttle passed away peacefully at his home at Strickland Place in Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community on August 2, 2021, after a courageous 12-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.  Terry was born on April 26, 1946, to Irene Tuttle in Winston-Salem, NC.  He grew up in Clemmons, NC surrounded by the love of his mother, grandparents, and ten aunts and uncles.  He graduated from Southwest High School in 1964 and studied drafting at Forsyth Technical College.   Terry served his country as an Army medic with the 312th Evacuation Hospital of the Army Reserve in Chu Lai, Vietnam and often referred to the television series M*A*S*H to convey to his family what life was like during his time in Vietnam.  He worked in mechanical contracting for The Bahnson Company in Winston-Salem, NC, Gamewell Mechanical in Salisbury, NC and Robertson Service Company in Charlotte, NC.  In 1980, he and his wife Janice purchased Hedgepeth Dry Cleaners and Shirt Laundry from James and Marjorie Hedgepeth in Winston-Salem.  Hedgepeth Cleaners was known for excellent customer service, perfectly pressed shirts, and spotless dry cleaning.  After he retired, his loyal customers called him at home on occasion in hopes that he would come back to work.  Terry owned and operated Hedgepeth until 2003 when he retired to care for his mother.   He loved to travel and fish and took several dream fishing trips to Alaska and also to Canada, trips to the Pacific Northwest with his son John, a trip to Italy with his daughter Melissa, and cruise vacations with Debbie Dosek, and their families.  He was actively involved in Clemmons United Methodist Church serving as an usher, volunteering in the food pantry, and was a member of the Crusaders Sunday School Class.  He was also a treasurer of the Clemmons Fire Department.  Terry was the most hard-working, determined, generous, and sharply dressed man we knew.  He was a devoted son and loving father who set an example for his children and grandchildren on how to live life.  He quietly helped those who were struggling, and he touched many lives during his time on Earth.  Terry will forever be remembered in our hearts.  He is preceded in death by his loving mother, Irene Tuttle Holt; his grandparents, Oscar and Etta Griffin Tuttle; his uncles, Russell, Dwight, and Hilary Tuttle, and his aunts, Alma T. Frye, Pauline T. James, Margaret T. Tucker, Marie T. Cope, Iva Lee T. Wagoner, and Shirley T. Newman, and his loving father and mother-in-law, Max and Clara Paige Cook.  Terry is survived by his daughter, Melissa Tuttle (Mark Shaw) and son, John Tuttle (Stephanie Combes), his three grandchildren Henry, Stephen, and Clara Tuttle; uncle, Wiley Tuttle; ex-wife, Janice Tuttle; girlfriend of 30 years Debbie Dosek, and many dear cousins and friends.  The family wish to thank the staff at Arbor Acres who lovingly cared for him for seven and a half years.  Special thanks to his nurses, Christy, Steve, Marie, Carrie, Anna, Kimmey, Suzanne, and Dawn, and his CNAs Angie, Tiffany, Vanessa, Lucie, Ashley, Nyasia, Paris, and Curtina.  We also wish to thank the Reverend Laura Lee Jones, Chaplain of Arbor Acres, Nurse Jane and Chaplain Beverly with Trellis Supportive Care / Hospice of Winston-Salem, and the Reverend John Fitzgerald of Clemmons United Methodist Church for their love and support.  The family will receive friends at Hayworth Miller Kinderton Chapel on Friday August 6, 2021, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm Saturday, August 7, 2021, at Clemmons United Methodist Church with the Reverend John Fitzgerald officiating.  A graveside service with military honors will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston-Salem.  Donations in Terry's memory can be made to The Employee Christmas Fund at Arbor Acres, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, or to Trellis Supportive Care of Winston-Salem, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.  Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.