Mr. Rutledge passed away Saturday evening at his home near Selmer.
A native of Bolivar, where he grew up, he was the son of the late Clyde E. Rutledge and Eva Catherine Richie Rutledge. At the age of 21, Mr. Rutledge moved to Chicago, eventually becoming the owner of Rutledge Fence Company, which he operated for 40 years. He had most recently lived in Selmer. Mr. Rutledge attended the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church.
He leaves as his survivors, his wife, Deborah K. German Rutledge of Selmer; son, Michael Rutledge of Somerville; daughter, Cathy Collins and husband, Bob, of Somerville; daughter, Terrie Pody and husband, Jim, of Wisconsin; son, Jeffrey German and wife, Sarah, of Lake In The Hills, IL; daughter, Vanessa Doyle and husband, Patrick, of Hampshire, IL; son, Kevin Rutledge and his son, Kadin, of Lake In The Hills, IL; two sisters, Ruby Weaver of Horn Lake, MS, and Hazel Smith and husband, Stan, of Selmer; brother, Edward Fawcett and wife, Janice, of Cameron, NC; he leaves total of 11 grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, George H. Fawcett; and a sister, Earnestine Brown.