Bobby Dee Rutherford Sr., born February 7, 1942 in Teague, TX, entered into eternal rest with joy at the age of 80, on September 2 in Fairfield. His adventures with the love of his life and bride of 63 years, Edna Foster Rutherford, took him across the country and around the world, but he was proud to call Freestone County home for his entire life.
He was a man who turned odds and expectations on their heads at every turn, wore his heart on his sleeve and his scars with pride, and was so known for his white cowboy hats that he earned the name Good Guy/Pop from many of his grandchildren. He was honored to be one of the longest surviving heart transplant recipients in history, and after a lifetime spent working with cattle, horses, oil rig construction, and car sales, he spent his "retirement" continuing to run Rutherford Land & Cattle with his son. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist and instilled a deep love of God in his family.
He leaves a legacy of love, compassion, and immense pride in a job well done, no matter how small the task.
In addition to his wife Edna Foster, he is survived by his children Patrice (Buster) Hagen and Bobby (Kim) Rutherford Jr.; his grandchildren David (Mindy) Pickens, Clint Pickens, Chad (Kortney) Hagen, Trey (Casey) Rutherford, Kyle Sessions, Kassie (Greg) Iwinski, Whitney (Kary) Ballew, Logan (Alina Hudson) Rutherford, Cait Rutherford, Cami Rutherford, Aeren Rutherford, Trent Rutherford; great-grandchildren Cameron McVeay, Dylan Pickens, Jake Hagen, Caden Pickens, Davie Pickens, Jason Hagen, Cambridge Rutherford, Townes Rutherford, Aiden Ballew, Owen Ballew, Emmett Ballew, Evan Ballew, Joseph Iwinski, and Eva Iwinski, and his siblings Bill Rutherford and Judy Anderson.
He is preceded in death by 9 brothers and 2 sisters.
Visitation will be 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, September 4, 2022, at Calvary Baptist Chruch. He will be laid to rest on 2:00 pm Monday, September 5, 2022, at Calvary Baptist Church, with services officiated by Bubba Rutherford. Burial will follow at Dew Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons David, Chad, Trey, Kyle, Logan, and Trent.
We offer solemn gratitude to the family who chose to turn the sorrow of the darkest day of their lives into 19 precious years of life for Bobby. We will never be able to adequately express our thanks this side of Heaven, but we know Bobby is getting a head start now.