Rutherford, Robert Earl

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Electrical Engineer.

• Education: Georgia Tech.

• Religion: Presbyterian.

• Obituary. Robert Earl Rutherford passed away on February 6, 2014, after a brief illness. Mr. Rutherford was born February 8, 1928, in Coalwood, WV, to the late Robert E. and Etta Worrell Rutherford. He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mildred June Rutherford; two loving daughters, Evangeline Lear (William) and Ann Calico (Paul); five grandchildren, Jennifer Eversole, Carrie Milner (Barrett), Robby Lear, Austin Calico (Leslie), and Molly Sergent (Jon); and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Sarah Ruth Beverly and Virginia Masten (Richard). He was predeceased by a sister, Iris June Rutherford An Eagle Scout, Earl graduated fifth in his class from Big Creek High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society. He served two years in the U.S. Navy on board the USS Toledo and USS Springfield. He graduated in 1952 with an electrical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of Eta Kappa Nu honor fraternity. His professional career of thirty-two years was spent as a systems and design manager and, before his retirement, as program manager for the advanced development of a computer system for the US Navy with Western Electric/Bell Labs/AT&T. In his younger days he was a camper, hunter, avid fisherman, and golfer. He loved the game of golf and boasted three holes-in-one at Sedgefield Country Club where he was a member. He also belonged to Tarheel Seniors, a golfing group that he and June enjoyed traveling with. Cooking was another of his passions. He was a gourmet chef, never duplicating a recipe. Those who knew him well will remember him as a great jokester, the cornier the joke, the better. Some of his favorite vacations were spending weeks at the beach with his family where he cooked, fished, and laughed and played with June, his daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 9, at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro where he was a member for thirty-five years.

Robert married Mildred June Cook, daughter of Wiley Clay Cook and Carrie Gretchen Austin, on 21 Sep 1949. (Mildred June Cook was born on 12 Aug 1929 in Coalwood, W.V..)