Gerald Rutledge

Gerald Glenn Rutledge, age 76, passed away on February 16, 2025, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Abilene, TX, to Glenn Landon Rutledge (1904-2000) and Margaret Lou Kinser- Rutledge (1913-1991) on February 29, 1948. He graduated from Cooper High School in 1967 and married his high school sweetheart, Judy Ann Smith, shortly thereafter in 1968.

He spent a short time in Ft. Worth, TX as he completed the Ranch Management Program at Texas Christian University. Gerald and Judy moved to Stephenville as he continued his studies in Agriculture at Tarleton State University.

In 1972, he and Judy made their way to Merkel, TX, where they have lived ever since. He was awarded the Young Farmer and Rancher Award by the Farm Bureau in 1971. Aside from grandchildren, his biggest joy was found behind the wheel of a tractor, and knee-deep in hard work.  His life was filled with wheat, cotton, cattle and later, crude oil. 

The lean years of farming brought the oilfield into his life, where he worked in various roles up until 2020 at age 71. He loved the challenge of solving problems that the oil field provided, and loved every part of rig operations. As a drilling consultant, he drilled hundreds of wells across the Permian Basin and Barnett Shale. 

He, along with his wife, were long-time members of First Baptist Church in Merkel, where he attended weekly until his last weeks on earth.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, his sister, Gay Lynn and her husband, John Millerman, of Richardson, TX, and his children: Glyn Ann Townsend (Abilene), Ellyn Grove (Lipan), and Brady Rutledge (Merkel) as well as his sons and daughters-in-law Chip, Kevin, and Jerra. He is survived by nine grandchildren and their spouses: Lexi Brookey and her husband Ethan, Taylor Grove and her fiancé Montell Meyer, Riley Grove and Landrey Grove, Trinity Townsend and Slade Townsend, Laramie, Emersyn, and Owen Rutledge. He was the proud great-grandfather to Iris Brookey, Ford Brookey, and their new sibling, who will arrive later this year, as well as Kreece Meyer.

Gerald was also very close to his extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews and treasured these relationships.  

The family would like to thank the countless medical professionals who were involved in his 19-year battle with cancer. In particular, the loving care of the InHabit Home Health team and more recently Alpha Omega Hospice. Your kindness and compassion to our dad is so appreciated.

The support and encouragement of family and friends and your continuous prayers have carried us through.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the charitable organization of your choice. 

While this battle has been long and hard-fought, we praise the Father for using it to show us His unfailing faithfulness and steadfast love.

Though we grieve, we do not grieve without hope. Gerald’s faith in Christ has now become sight, and the hope of eternal life through our Savior lives on in us.

"And endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Romans 5:4-6 ESV

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