Ruth Elizabeth Rutledge

Ruth Elizabeth "Betty" Rutledge, 98, died Sunday, February 17 at Cumberland Village, Aiken, SC. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, James Loy Rutledge and granddaughter, Susan Olson of Golden, CO. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Patrick LeMay and husband, William LeMay of Aiken, SC; granddaughter, Bethe Patrick Ogle and her husband, Brent Ogle of Williston, VT; grandson, Mark Patrick of South Orange NJ; great-grandchildren, Benjamin Ogle, Mitchell Ogle, Emily Patrick, Zoe Patrick, Alina Patrick, and Charlie Olson; father, James Olson of Golden, CO; step-grandsons, Stephen LeMay and wife, Lori of Frisco, TX and Philip LeMay of the Woodlands, TX; and step-great-grandchildren, Jordan LeMay of Republic MO and Foster Joyce of Lubbock, TX. Betty was born in Las Vegas, NM on January 6, 1915. She moved to Dallas, TX with her mother, Ada Ruth Iden and brothers, Chester and Larry Iden after her father, Chester Milo Iden died in 1927. After graduating from Highland Park High School, Betty entered the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM where she pledged Alpha Chi Omega and met her future husband, James (Jim) Rutledge whose career entailed ownership and operation of Sanitary Laundry and Rutledge Linen Supply. Betty and Jim were active members of the Albuquerque community. Betty enjoyed playing bridge, golf and scrabble. She gave decades of service as a Grey Lady at the Veterans Hospital and Lovelace Medical Center and 20 years assisting the thrift shop at Central Methodist Church. She and Jim sponsored the "Rutledge Endowed Professorship in Management" at the UNM Anderson School of Business and more recently an endowment to the UNM Medical School, Science and Research Department in memory of her granddaughter, Susan. The Rutledge's also supported the Natural History Museum, Presbyterian Hospital, and Central United Methodist Church. Jim and Betty enjoyed extensive travel throughout the world by plane, cruise line and freighter ship. A Memorial Service will be held at FRENCH - University on Thursday, October 17, 2013, 11:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty's name may be made to the Rutledge Family Endowment, in memory of Susan Patrick Olson, UNM Foundation, c/o School of Medicine, 700 Lomas Blvd. NE, Two Woodward Center, Suite 108, Albuquerque, NM 87102 or to a charity of your choice.