Huye Charles Rutledge, 81, loving husband, respected father, guiding grandfather, caring brother, patient uncle, and wonderful friend, passed peacefully and quickly from this life into heaven on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at his home in Springtown.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Springtown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Baptist Church of Springtown or to the Love and Stitches Mission at the First Baptist Church of Springtown.
Born in Day Community, Shelby County, to John C. Rutledge and Mary Ann Phillips Rutledge on March 5, 1933, Huye moved with his family to Orange 10 years later. After graduating from Lutcher Stark High School in 1951, Huye attended the University of Houston prior to working at Freeport Sulphur Co.
Deeply rooted in his faith and very devoted to God, his country and his family, Huye served in the United States Air Force from 1953-1957, completing assignments in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Greenland and New Mexico.
He accepted Christ as his Savior in 1959 at Cove Baptist Church, Orange, where he taught teenage boys in Sunday school and taught teens in Training Union. In 1962 he moved his membership to North Orange Baptist Church and was ordained and served as a deacon from 1966-1971. In addition, Huye was a member of the West Orange Cove ISD Board of Trustees from 1965-1974.
During his career in Orange, he worked four years as a draftsman at U.S. Steel before becoming an electrician for E.I. du Pont for 30 years, then moving in 1992 with his wife, Virginia Rutledge, to Springtown to be near their grandchildren.
An active member of First Baptist Church of Springtown since 1999, Huye was always busy doing things for other people. Anytime someone needed help mowing their lawn or trimming trees or building a handicap ramp to get into their home, they would call Huye to come do the job.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself”–Luke 10:27 was the verse by which Huye lived his life.
Huye loved to hunt and fish, but his biggest hobby was work. No matter what he was working on, he was having fun, “spreading rays of sunshine,” as he would say. Anytime he was asked, “How are you?” his reply would always be, “Better than I deserve!” As a father and grandfather, he consistently showed patience and kindness, his heart brimming with unconditional love. He was a man of few words, but he had a look that got our attention from across the room. When he spoke, we always listened as he imparted indelible lessons to his children and grandchildren.
Huye was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Rutledge of Joaquin and his brother, John E. Rutledge of Houston.
Huye had a deep devotion to his family and is survived by his loving wife of almost 40 years, Virginia Isbell Rutledge; daughters, Diane and husband, Marshall Morrison, of Azle and Angie Tompkins of Lucedale, Mississippi; grandchildren, Barret and Victoria Morrison, James Earl Durant and Hunter Tompkins; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.
