H.R. No. 1779
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever cherish their
memories of Ruth Fackler Rutledge of El Paso, who passed away on
March 31, 2009, at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 8,
1915, Mrs. Rutledge was a talented musician and entertainer as a
child, playing her first piano recital by age seven; she also played
the piano in the Kiddie Reviews and entertained at neighborhood
theaters, playing the accordion and harmonica and tap dancing; a
highlight of her early musical career was an invitation to be a
pianist for the world-renowned Andrews Sisters; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rutledge arrived in El Paso in 1939 and was
employed by Standard Oil Company; always active, she played
shortstop and first base on the company softball team and joined
their touring quartet of musicians, known as The Rancheritas; she
married Charles Victor Rutledge in 1941 at St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, where she was an active member; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, Mrs. Rutledge moved with her navy
commander husband to Fort Worth, Texas; Monterey, California; New
York City; New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Eastern Caroline
Islands, where Mr. Rutledge was appointed acting military governor;
and
WHEREAS, After returning to El Paso, Mrs. Rutledge devoted
her considerable energy to assisting community organizations; in
addition to serving as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, she was
active in the PTA at a number of area schools, serving as president
at Lamar Elementary, and her involvement earned her a lifetime PTA
membership; and
WHEREAS, President of the Delta Gamma Sorority Alumnae group
and the Desert Hills Garden Club, she worked in behalf of the
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Sun Carnival
Association, Providence Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and UTEP
Women's Auxiliary, which she served as scholarship chair; for her
tremendous generosity and efforts to benefit the city she loved,
Mrs. Rutledge was honored in 2000 by the Volunteer Bureau of El
Paso, and in 2005 she was named to the Older El Pasoans Hall of Fame;
and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Rutledge was deeply committed to her church,
teaching Sunday school, playing the piano, and acting as the Luther
League sponsor; she also played the pipe organ on occasion, an
instrument she studied at Texas Western College; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Fackler Rutledge lived a caring and purposeful
life, and she will always be remembered with great tenderness and
affection; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature pay tribute to the life of Ruth Fackler Rutledge and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
daughters, Susan Rutledge Crews and Sally Rutledge Souers; to her
granddaughter, Lauren Rutledge Souers; to her grandson, Dr. Charles
Rutledge Crews, and his wife, Camille Frost Crews; to her
great-granddaughter, Daley Rutledge Crews; to her sisters, Lucille
Andrew and Dorothy Jensen; and to her other relatives and friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth
Fackler Rutledge.
Marquez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1779 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 11, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House