Robert Rutherford

Robert "Earl" Rutherford, age 92, passed from this life on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Journey Home in Bartlesville, OK. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 19, at the Benjamin Funeral Home in Nowata, OK, with Pastor Justin McKee of�ciating. Burial following at the Nowata Memorial Cemetary. He was the eldest of two children born to Samuel and Laura (Brink) Rutherford in Mannford, OK, on June 17, 1925. Earl attended several Coffeyville area schools during the Great Depression. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a weather man. Earl was known to be a hard worker. He commonly held 2-3 jobs at a time. He delivered ice, worked a part-time job for the railroad, and maintained a position with the Co-op Re�nery in Coffeyville, KS. He retired from the Re�nery after 35 years. He went on to work with Taylor Crane and Rigging for another 18 years until he stopped working at 82 years of age. He was a very athletic man. He began cycling in his 60's and continued into his 70's. He cycled regularly, and he even rode (and �nished!) a 100 mile race. His greatest love was boxing. He was an amateur boxer traveling to �ghts in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Earl carried the ring name of Rock Rib Rutherford. He also became a boxing coach for many young men in the Coffeyville area. Earl is preceded in death by his parents Samuel and Laura Rutherford, brother Austin "Buck" Rutherford, and son Robert Rutherford. Earl is survived by his wife, Tudi, children Gina Rutherford Schille Hunt and husband Corey, Dusty Rutherford and wife Kathy, 8 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. In lieu of �owers donations can be made to The Journey Home in Bartlesville, OK.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 9:00am - 7:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Thursday, January 18th, 2018 9:00am - 7:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, January 19th, 2018 2:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Interment Details

Memorial Park - Nowata