Obituary for Ruby Rutherford

Ruby Elda Rutherford

October 21, 1922 – November 11, 2018

Ruby Elda (Schultz) Rutherford, 96, of Perry, went to be with her heavenly father, at 6 a.m. Sunday, November 11, 2018, at the home of her daughter, Linda Luthye. Ruby was born October 21, 1922 in Ames, Oklahoma, to Peter and Katherine Schultz. She was one of 12 siblings.

Ruby received her education grades one through eight at Westlawn District 12, Noble County, and graduated from Billings High School in 1941. She was the only member of her family to graduate from high school. After high school, November 4, 1941, she married Rufus J. Rutherford in Perry. They were engaged in farming until 1948 when Rufus was employed by Warren Petroleum Company. Ruby worked 12 years in a restaurant on the south side of the square. She also worked two years in the Perry School cafeteria. Her husband was transferred to Sapulpa where she worked seven years in the Bartlett Hospital as dietetic assistant and food service director and four years at Sapulpa schools as secretary to the food service director, retiring in 1984. At that time, they moved back to Perry.

Ruby was a very gifted and talented artist, painted pictures, and such things as saws, boards, gourds, etc., and gave to members of her family. As Christmas presents for their family, her husband would create gifts and she would paint them. They are cherished by her family members.

She was a founding member of Perry Assembly of God Church, where she taught Sunday School. When she could, she loved working in her yard. When she became unable, she sat outside and directed her daughters, Linda and Marie, in what to do. She was known as a good cook and visitors never left her home without eating something.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 15 at the First Baptist Church, with Rev. Brett Nation officiating and her son Rev. Dr. Lonnie Rutherford assisting. Public viewing will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel, with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. She will be laid to rest in Sample Cemetery, northwest of Lucien.

She is survived by her six children, four sons and two daughters: Marie Oliver, and her husband Larry, Norman; Harvey Rutherford, and his wife Lanette, Woodward; Larry Rutherford and his wife Donna, Enid; Rev. Lonnie Rutherford and his wife Iona, Billings; Linda (Rutherford) Luthye, Perry, and Stan Rutherford, and his wife Sheryl, Newark, MO; 19 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; and eight great, great grandchildren. Also, her brother, Pete Schultz, Billings, and nephew Melvin Schultz, Sapulpa, who was reared as a brother; and sister-in-law, Reba (Rutherford) Chastain, Perry; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Rufus, she was preceded in death by her parents; 10 siblings: Elbert, Walter, Harry, Lester, Lewis, Irvin, Irene Montgomery, Mable Parker, Magelena Beckner, Vivian Rutherford (sisters married brothers); daughter-in-law, Shirley Jean Johnson Rutherford; son-in-law, John Luthye; sister-in-law, Lucille Schultz, and one grandchild, Sara Faye Rutherford.

Memorials may be made to the Perry Assembly of God in care of Trout Funeral Home, 1408 N. 7th Street, Perry Ok 73077. The family would like for friends to share memories of Ruby at www.troutperry.com

Source: Trout Funeral Home