Mrs. Barbara Ann Tuttle

Barbara Ann (Bonifay) Tuttle
Barbara Ann (Bonifay) Tuttle (“Boots”), wife, mother of five children, sister and dear friend to many, died August 25, 2023 in Fairfax, Virginia after a long, courageous, never give up battle with cancer. She was the wife and soul mate of the distinguished, respected and brilliant naval innovator, Vice Admiral Jerry O. Tuttle, who predeceased her in death in 2018.
They were a match set for an amazing 63 years, marrying as two small-town 1950s teenagers. He was the only child of two Depression-era Indiana farmers. She grew up in what was then a tiny beach town in Pensacola, Florida, where the Navy had established its aviation training facilities. She was in high school when they met on a blind date over a pizza which she had never eaten before. When Ensign Jerry O. Tuttle earned his wings, she pinned them on him, and he asked her to marry him. “Boots” he called her which was a name Barbara’s dad gave her, and she called him “Jerry O.” She said yes, and together the two inexperienced teenagers ultimately would raise a family and take the Navy by storm.
In Boots, Jerry met his match. Beautiful, bubbly and outgoing, she too had a brilliant mind, a determined will and extraordinary reservoirs of energy. In particular, she had a gift for human empathy and compassion, and like her husband, she had a strong magnetic personality. As many would say, “She never met a stranger and she always made you feel good.” During the terrifying years when Jerry’s squadron was in Vietnam and during the long tours in which he had command at sea, she carried exceptionally heavy burdens to look after her family but also other families left at home. The toughest job in the Navy is being a Navy wife. It was still a time when the only communication between couples a half a world apart were written letters and the very rare opportunities to call home when the carrier pulled into foreign ports. The heart-wrenching news of a pilot’s death or capture was delivered suddenly, without warning, at the front door by a Navy chaplain accompanied by Boots. In her early 30’s with five young children herself, she over and again comforted and consoled others with sudden tragic losses and helped them hang on.
Together the Tuttles were a natural team, and in the end, they both became legendary in the Navy. They had a sort of gravitational pull that caused people in any room, no matter how large or small, to gather around them. Jerry had a hardy laugh you could hear across a room, and beside him inevitably all the action would gravitate around Barbara’s energetic presence. It simply was not possible not to want to be around them. You felt seen and heard. Barbara was genuinely curious about you and how you were doing. She made you feel important. If you have a bad day, call Boots. She would make it better.
As an example of her devotion to her children, when invited to christen a new Navy ship, the USS Patriot (MCM 7) in May 1990 – a rare honor – she accepted but told a shocked christening officer to change the date, because of a conflict with the high school graduation of one of her youngest. When Admiral Tuttle learned of it, he explained to her that such days were carefully and long before set based on tides and moon phases. Boots was unmoved. The Navy would give way and a new ship christening date was set.
Barbara was a competitive ballroom dancer until her late 70s and won many awards and medals. Her energy was thrown into a variety of charitable activities from counseling elementary school children, working at a gift shop at the Navy Yard to becoming one of the “Arlington Ladies” – women who work to help Arlington Cemetery with families and services. She was an avid shopper who knew where all the sales were and was greeted by the store employees when walking through the front door. Barbara was always on the move. Jerry would say, “If you watch the local news long enough, you will see Boots’ Volvo in the background”. On one evening while the family was watching tv, the phone rang and Barbara answered the phone. She spoke to the person for over an hour. Jerry asked who had called. Barbara replied, “It was the wrong number.” Barbara spoke on the phone helping a young mother with her sick child. She was a devout Catholic and a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Washington DC.
Barbara was the third child of George Bonifay Jr. and Jean (Parra) Bonifay. Sister to Ronald Bonifay and was preceded in death by Richard Bonifay. She is survived by their five children: Mike Tuttle (Janet), Vicky Tuttle, Mark Tuttle (Karen), Stephen Tuttle (Kelly) and Monique Tuttle Vigil (Daniel); six grandchildren: Michael Tuttle, Carleigh Tuttle, Sean Tuttle, Lauren Vigil, Scott Tuttle and Caroline Tuttle; and three great-grandchildren: Corianne, Taryn and Dylan Tuttle.
Barbara Tuttle will be laid to rest beside her husband on Thursday April 10th, 2025. Chapel service will be at 2:45pm at Old Post Chapel on Fort Myers Base. Burial will follow at Arlington National Cemetery. A reception will be at Patton Hall Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Passes are needed to gain entry to the base and can be requested online at https://pass.aie.army.mil/jbmhh
In lieu of flowers and in honor of Barbara Bonifay Tuttle, donations may be made to Pensacola Catholic High School. Checks can be made payable to Pensacola Catholic High School. On bottom of check add, “In memory of Barbara Bonifay Tuttle”. Address: 3043 West Scott Street, Pensacola, FL 32505. Donations can also be done online https://pensacolachs.org/memorials-and-bequests/ .