John Paul Rutledge

John Paul Rutledge was born on April 22, 1943 in Fort Collins, CO to Oather Edward (Doc) and Grace Rutledge. His father was a logger and the family spent time between Colorado and Missouri. Doc passed away then John was 5-years old in Colorado and his family had to ride on the on the back of a pick-up truck for days with other family members to make it back to Missouri. John recalled how long the trip seemed and how duty those 1948 back roads were.

John spent his younger years with his brothers, sisters and mother in the small Missouri town named Birch Tree. A small town where everyone knew each other or most likely was family. He talked often of the family, cousins and friends that ran and did things outside as kids. When in high school, he played basketball, a sport he would later teach his children and grandchildren, often shouting “use the back board.” Due to his height, in high school he was the center, where his height helped him reach the rebounds a little easier and also a few elbows from other players.

After high school he and a close friend enlisted in the United States Navy and headed off to the Great Lakes for training. He would go on to receive his orders to report to the USS Lorain County LST 1177 based out of Norfolk, VA. During his Navy years, he traveled up and down the East Coast, the Caribbean and made a few trips through the Panama Canal. During the tense time of the Cuban Missile Crisis he and his ship mates were abroad the Lorain County near Cuba awaiting instructions: fortunately they would not be needed. 

He leaves behind his children, Vonda, Cindy and Travis as well as his grandchildren: Cameron, Corey, Summer, Ashton and Madison. He also leaves his brothers, Joe, Randy, Rusty and sisters Patsey, Sharron, Barbara and numerous nieces and nephews. He was loved and will forever be missed. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nickie, his brother Edward, sisters Wilma Lucille, Mary Lou, Rhonda and Betty. 

He peacefully left this world and entered into his determinant heavenly home on March 4, 2022. Burial was at Thornrose Cemetery.