March 17, 2008
DONALD L. RUTHERFORD: Greatest Generation Veteran Left Many Memories and Survivors
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
DONALD L. RUTHERFORD, 85, of Huntington, WV, husband of Lillian Shuff Rutherford and father of HNN reporter and Entertainment Editor Tony Rutherford and, died Thursday, March 13, 2008 in Cornerstone Hospital, Huntington of complications from a staph infection in his heel. He was the retired maintenance supervisor and chief of Buildings and Grounds for the VA Hospital.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Robert Bondurant at Reger Funeral Chapel, Huntington; burial follows at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Huntington. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
He had served proudly in World War II in the Third Army under Gen. George S. Patton, helping construct the longest Bailey bridge across the Rhine River in Germany and liberating one of the concentration camps. During one German battle he was the only soldier left alive, said his sister Jean Walters.
A member of the Guyandotte VFW and AFGE, “Doc” graduated from Buffalo High School (Wayne) where he played in the band, was a former deacon, choir member, assistant. Song leader at Jefferson Ave. Baptist Church, a retired maintenance worker at the Chesapeake Family Medical Center, one the founding shareholders of the VA Credit Union, and assisted his surviving son, Tony, on various writing/publishing endeavors, including “The Entertainer,” “Graffiti,” and Huntington News Network.
Growing up as I did with allergies and asthma, he always would bring me my latest comic books from the drug store and compensate for my awkwardness on electronic projects by performing the mechanical aspects of, for instance, erecting, such as a 10 ˝” satellite dish in the back yard.
In addition, during the Cold War, he once took part in a several days “fallout shelter” experience with fellow VA workers in the basement of the VA Hospital’s Recreation Hall.
A member of the ‘greatest generation,’ he did not converse much except to acknowledge that he was feeling ‘top of the ladder.” Although he faithfully kept his physician’s appointments, he would be quick to postpone his appointment if someone else had a severe illness while his was only a checkup. He tolerated his sensitive son’s news and reporting work -- usually enjoying an opportunity to follow a fire truck. He had a gift of helping others even when those who seemed continually least appreciative.
During his stay at the hospital, he kept asking “when can I go home” and occasionally started gingerly placing his legs in a position to get out of bed, even though he was not able to be released.
He was preceded in death by his parents Pearl and Grace Christian Rutherford; a son Michael Lee Rutherford; seven sisters, June Cox, Fannie Moses, Opal Murrill, Betty Barnette, Ruby Pelfrey, Ann Falloway, Arma Mayo; two brothers, Billy Rutherford, and Byrd Rutherford; and five nephews and nieces including Allen Cox, Richard Cox, Jerry Cox, Donald Moses, Allen Cox, Jerry Cox, Pasty Ruth Cox, and Margaret Pelfrey.
He is also survived by two sisters, Alice Stewart of California and Jean Walters (widow of Edwin Walters, chief engineer at WTCR and various radio stations), and the following nieces and nephews: Mark, Debbie, Danny and Ruth Walters, Billy and Sam Stewart; Nasha , Richard, David, and Susan Rutherford; Becky Mayo; Junior, Peorly and Mary Ann Falloway; Kenneth, Carolyn , Janet and Kimberly Pelfrey; Steve Barnette; Janice, Nancy, Louise, Mary Jane and Betty Ruth Murrill; and Allen, Richard, Judy and Barbara Cox. They live throughout the United States.
And by special friends Joseph and Leo Pniewski , Jeff Hedgecock, current and former members of the Engineering Dept. at the VA Medical Center, biscuit and gravy severs at Tudor’s , McDonald’s, Long John Silver’s and Burger King and faithful Irishsetter, Danny, who saved his life when he was bleeding profusely from blood thinner. He was also preceded in death by loving Irishsetters, Sir Sam, Sage, and retired showdog, Brian to whom he regularly gave insulin treatments.
From the biography of the late Peter Marshall, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, “See you in the morning, dad.”
You can read a 1945 WW II commander's letter to troops by downloading the following pdf.
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
DONALD L. RUTHERFORD, 85, of Huntington, WV, husband of Lillian Shuff Rutherford and father of HNN reporter and Entertainment Editor Tony Rutherford and, died Thursday, March 13, 2008 in Cornerstone Hospital, Huntington of complications from a staph infection in his heel. He was the retired maintenance supervisor and chief of Buildings and Grounds for the VA Hospital.
 |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
He had served proudly in World War II in the Third Army under Gen. George S. Patton, helping construct the longest Bailey bridge across the Rhine River in Germany and liberating one of the concentration camps. During one German battle he was the only soldier left alive, said his sister Jean Walters.
A member of the Guyandotte VFW and AFGE, “Doc” graduated from Buffalo High School (Wayne) where he played in the band, was a former deacon, choir member, assistant. Song leader at Jefferson Ave. Baptist Church, a retired maintenance worker at the Chesapeake Family Medical Center, one the founding shareholders of the VA Credit Union, and assisted his surviving son, Tony, on various writing/publishing endeavors, including “The Entertainer,” “Graffiti,” and Huntington News Network.
Growing up as I did with allergies and asthma, he always would bring me my latest comic books from the drug store and compensate for my awkwardness on electronic projects by performing the mechanical aspects of, for instance, erecting, such as a 10 ˝” satellite dish in the back yard.
In addition, during the Cold War, he once took part in a several days “fallout shelter” experience with fellow VA workers in the basement of the VA Hospital’s Recreation Hall.
A member of the ‘greatest generation,’ he did not converse much except to acknowledge that he was feeling ‘top of the ladder.” Although he faithfully kept his physician’s appointments, he would be quick to postpone his appointment if someone else had a severe illness while his was only a checkup. He tolerated his sensitive son’s news and reporting work -- usually enjoying an opportunity to follow a fire truck. He had a gift of helping others even when those who seemed continually least appreciative.
During his stay at the hospital, he kept asking “when can I go home” and occasionally started gingerly placing his legs in a position to get out of bed, even though he was not able to be released.
He was preceded in death by his parents Pearl and Grace Christian Rutherford; a son Michael Lee Rutherford; seven sisters, June Cox, Fannie Moses, Opal Murrill, Betty Barnette, Ruby Pelfrey, Ann Falloway, Arma Mayo; two brothers, Billy Rutherford, and Byrd Rutherford; and five nephews and nieces including Allen Cox, Richard Cox, Jerry Cox, Donald Moses, Allen Cox, Jerry Cox, Pasty Ruth Cox, and Margaret Pelfrey.
He is also survived by two sisters, Alice Stewart of California and Jean Walters (widow of Edwin Walters, chief engineer at WTCR and various radio stations), and the following nieces and nephews: Mark, Debbie, Danny and Ruth Walters, Billy and Sam Stewart; Nasha , Richard, David, and Susan Rutherford; Becky Mayo; Junior, Peorly and Mary Ann Falloway; Kenneth, Carolyn , Janet and Kimberly Pelfrey; Steve Barnette; Janice, Nancy, Louise, Mary Jane and Betty Ruth Murrill; and Allen, Richard, Judy and Barbara Cox. They live throughout the United States.
And by special friends Joseph and Leo Pniewski , Jeff Hedgecock, current and former members of the Engineering Dept. at the VA Medical Center, biscuit and gravy severs at Tudor’s , McDonald’s, Long John Silver’s and Burger King and faithful Irishsetter, Danny, who saved his life when he was bleeding profusely from blood thinner. He was also preceded in death by loving Irishsetters, Sir Sam, Sage, and retired showdog, Brian to whom he regularly gave insulin treatments.
From the biography of the late Peter Marshall, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, “See you in the morning, dad.”
You can read a 1945 WW II commander's letter to troops by downloading the following pdf.
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
