BOBBY DEE RUTHERFORD
Bobby Dee Rutherford Sr., born Feb. 7, 1942, in Teague, entered into eternal rest with joy at the age of 80 on Sept. 2, 2022, in Fairfield. His adventures with the love of his life and bride of 63 years, Edna Foster Rutherford, took him across the country and around the world, but he was proud to call Freestone County home for his entire life.
He was a man who turned odds and expectations on their heads at every turn, wore his heart on his sleeve and his scars with pride, and was so known for his white cowboy hats that he earned the name Good Guy/Pop from many of his grandchildren. He was honored to be one of the longest surviving heart transplant recipients in history, and after a lifetime spent working with cattle, horses, oil rig construction, and car sales, he spent his “retirement” continuing to run Rutherford Land & Cattle with his son. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist and instilled a deep love of God in his family. He leaves a legacy of love, compassion, and immense pride in a job well done, no matter how small the task.
In addition to his wife, Edna Foster, he is survived by his children, Patrice (Buster) Hagen and Bobby (Kim) Rutherford Jr.; his grandchildren, David (Mindy) Pickens, Clint Pickens, Chad (Kortney) Hagen, Trey (Casey) Rutherford, Kyle Sessions, Kassie (Greg) Iwinski, Whitney (Kary) Ballew, Logan (Alina Hudson) Rutherford, Cait Rutherford, Cami Rutherford, Aeren Rutherford, Trent Rutherford; great-grandchildren Cameron McVeay, Dylan Pickens, Jake Hagen, Caden Pickens, Davie Pickens, Jason Hagen, Cambridge Rutherford, Townes Rutherford, Aiden Ballew, Owen Ballew, Emmett Ballew, Evan Ballew, Joseph Iwinski, and Eva Iwinski, and his siblings Bill Rutherford and Judy Anderson.
He was preceded in death by nine brothers and two sisters.
We offer solemn gratitude to the family who chose to turn the sorrow of the darkest day of their lives into 19 precious years of life for Bobby. We will never be able to adequately express our thanks this side of Heaven, but we know Bobby is getting a head start now.
Visitation was Sunday, Sept. 4, at Calvary Baptist Church. He was laid to rest at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5, at Calvary Baptist Church, with services officiated by Bubba Rutherford and Brother Lloyd Lane. Burial was at Dew Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons David, Chad, Trey, Kyle, Logan and Trent. An online guest book is available at www.griffin-roughton.com Arrangements by Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home.