Dutch Battle, a longtime resident of the Hammond/Ponchatoula,La., area, died from injuries sustained in an auto accident onTuesday, Dec. 18, 2006, near his home in Summit. Visitation will beheld at the First United Methodist Church in Hammond on Friday,Dec. 22, 2006, from 10 a.m. until noon, with a memorial serviceimmediately following. Jones Family Funeral Services will be incharge of arrangements.

He was born on July 28, 1948, in Houston, Texas. Dutch, aVietnam Navy veteran, served on the USS Ponchatoula. He was agraduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and was an avidhunter. He was involved in the Columbia Theater Players and thePonchatoula Kiwanis Club. After a long career in the insurancebusiness, Dutch followed his passion for motorcycles and, at thetime of his death, worked for Harley Davidson of Hammond. He rodewith his friends, the Magnificent Seven, who together made thejourney to Sturgis, S.D., for Bike Week.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Cadwallader Battle; daughtersReagan and her husband, Craig Johnson, of Hammond, and Lindsay andher husband, James Lirette, of Ponchatoula; brothers, Dr. PatBattle, of Summit, and Byron Battle and his wife, Margarita, ofQueretaro, Mexico; sisters-in-law, Janet and her husband Dr. BillGunnell, and Laney Crampton, of Madison; brothers-in-law, JohnCadwallader, of Baton Rouge, La., the Rev. Douglas Cadwallader, ofHouston, Texas, and Roy Crampton, of Jackson; grandson, GideonJohnson, of Hammond; nephews, Jeffrey Battle and wife Julie, ofGainesville, Ga., Jason Battle and his wife Laura, of Memphis,Tenn., Jesse Battle, of Hattiesburg, Lars Battle, of Queretaro, andWill Gunnell, of Summit; and niece, Adrienne Palermo and husband,Nick, of O’Fallon, Mo.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Orrin M. and LauraGroner Battle, Pass Christian; niece, Allyson Gunnell, of Summit;and nephew, Eric Battle, of Alexandria, Va.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the AllysonGunnell Scholarship Foundation, Southwest Mississippi CommunityCollege, Summit, MS 39666.