Sara Jane Armstrong Rutherford, 77, a Sul Ross graduate and wife of former Texas State Legislator and United States Congressman J.T. Rutherford, passed away from myeloma leukemia on Sept. 14 at the family home in Arlington, Va.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Cleo Armstrong, of Karnes City, Texas. Raised on a farm near Karnes City, she attended the University of Texas before transferring to what was then Sul Ross State Teacher's College. It was there she met her husband, a former combat Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Always vivacious and at ease when meeting strangers, Sara made many friends at Sul Ross including another ex-Marine who was close to J.T. Rutherford, the late owner of KVLF in Alpine, Gene Hendryx. Another of the Rutherford friends at Sul Ross was the late Dan (Hoss) Blocker, who found fame on the long-running TV series, "Bonanza."
Sara Rutherford loved Alpine and the entire Big Bend area. When her Congressman-husband became Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Interior Committee, she was delighted because he was able to assist Big Bend National Park and also establish Old Fort Davis as a National Historic Site.
The Rutherfords maintained homes in Odessa during J.T. Rutherford's service in the State Legislature (1948-1954) and in the U.S. Congress (1955-1962). Sara Rutherford sometimes campaigned throughout her husband's sprawling old 16th Congressional District-which included the Big Bend area-and, East to West, extended from Midland through El Paso.This allowed her husband to stay in Washington while Congress was in session, so as not to miss votes. She also campaigned for the 1960 Democratic Presidential ticket of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, along with her close friend, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Kennedy sisters. She wrote in her private memoir that she never had been impressed by power but cherished the friends she made in politics whether in West Texas, Washington or elsewhere.
Mrs. Rutherford was an active member of the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va., serving in numerous capacities including as a Deacon. Her strong faith and wisdom were a strong influence on all who knew her, especially the many young women she mentored and whom she considered her "daughters."
Sara Rutherford is survived by her loving husband of 56 years; by her daughter, Ann Rutherford of Arlington, Va., and her son, Charles Lane Rutherford of Denton; granddaughter, Sara A. Batla; and a grandson, Charles Rutherford Batla; and a large "family of faith."
A celebration of Sara Rutherford's life will be held at Columbia Baptist Church on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. with interment to follow at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Cleo Armstrong, of Karnes City, Texas. Raised on a farm near Karnes City, she attended the University of Texas before transferring to what was then Sul Ross State Teacher's College. It was there she met her husband, a former combat Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Always vivacious and at ease when meeting strangers, Sara made many friends at Sul Ross including another ex-Marine who was close to J.T. Rutherford, the late owner of KVLF in Alpine, Gene Hendryx. Another of the Rutherford friends at Sul Ross was the late Dan (Hoss) Blocker, who found fame on the long-running TV series, "Bonanza."
Sara Rutherford loved Alpine and the entire Big Bend area. When her Congressman-husband became Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Interior Committee, she was delighted because he was able to assist Big Bend National Park and also establish Old Fort Davis as a National Historic Site.
The Rutherfords maintained homes in Odessa during J.T. Rutherford's service in the State Legislature (1948-1954) and in the U.S. Congress (1955-1962). Sara Rutherford sometimes campaigned throughout her husband's sprawling old 16th Congressional District-which included the Big Bend area-and, East to West, extended from Midland through El Paso.This allowed her husband to stay in Washington while Congress was in session, so as not to miss votes. She also campaigned for the 1960 Democratic Presidential ticket of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, along with her close friend, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Kennedy sisters. She wrote in her private memoir that she never had been impressed by power but cherished the friends she made in politics whether in West Texas, Washington or elsewhere.
Mrs. Rutherford was an active member of the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va., serving in numerous capacities including as a Deacon. Her strong faith and wisdom were a strong influence on all who knew her, especially the many young women she mentored and whom she considered her "daughters."
Sara Rutherford is survived by her loving husband of 56 years; by her daughter, Ann Rutherford of Arlington, Va., and her son, Charles Lane Rutherford of Denton; granddaughter, Sara A. Batla; and a grandson, Charles Rutherford Batla; and a large "family of faith."
A celebration of Sara Rutherford's life will be held at Columbia Baptist Church on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. with interment to follow at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
Sara Jane Armstrong Rutherford, 77, a Sul Ross graduate and wife of former Texas State Legislator and United States Congressman J.T. Rutherford, passed away from myeloma leukemia on Sept. 14 at the family home in Arlington, Va.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Cleo Armstrong, of Karnes City, Texas. Raised on a farm near Karnes City, she attended the University of Texas before transferring to what was then Sul Ross State Teacher's College. It was there she met her husband, a former combat Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Always vivacious and at ease when meeting strangers, Sara made many friends at Sul Ross including another ex-Marine who was close to J.T. Rutherford, the late owner of KVLF in Alpine, Gene Hendryx. Another of the Rutherford friends at Sul Ross was the late Dan (Hoss) Blocker, who found fame on the long-running TV series, "Bonanza."
Sara Rutherford loved Alpine and the entire Big Bend area. When her Congressman-husband became Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Interior Committee, she was delighted because he was able to assist Big Bend National Park and also establish Old Fort Davis as a National Historic Site.
The Rutherfords maintained homes in Odessa during J.T. Rutherford's service in the State Legislature (1948-1954) and in the U.S. Congress (1955-1962). Sara Rutherford sometimes campaigned throughout her husband's sprawling old 16th Congressional District-which included the Big Bend area-and, East to West, extended from Midland through El Paso.This allowed her husband to stay in Washington while Congress was in session, so as not to miss votes. She also campaigned for the 1960 Democratic Presidential ticket of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, along with her close friend, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Kennedy sisters. She wrote in her private memoir that she never had been impressed by power but cherished the friends she made in politics whether in West Texas, Washington or elsewhere.
Mrs. Rutherford was an active member of the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va., serving in numerous capacities including as a Deacon. Her strong faith and wisdom were a strong influence on all who knew her, especially the many young women she mentored and whom she considered her "daughters."
Sara Rutherford is survived by her loving husband of 56 years; by her daughter, Ann Rutherford of Arlington, Va., and her son, Charles Lane Rutherford of Denton; granddaughter, Sara A. Batla; and a grandson, Charles Rutherford Batla; and a large "family of faith."
A celebration of Sara Rutherford's life will be held at Columbia Baptist Church on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. with interment to follow at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Cleo Armstrong, of Karnes City, Texas. Raised on a farm near Karnes City, she attended the University of Texas before transferring to what was then Sul Ross State Teacher's College. It was there she met her husband, a former combat Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Always vivacious and at ease when meeting strangers, Sara made many friends at Sul Ross including another ex-Marine who was close to J.T. Rutherford, the late owner of KVLF in Alpine, Gene Hendryx. Another of the Rutherford friends at Sul Ross was the late Dan (Hoss) Blocker, who found fame on the long-running TV series, "Bonanza."
Sara Rutherford loved Alpine and the entire Big Bend area. When her Congressman-husband became Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Interior Committee, she was delighted because he was able to assist Big Bend National Park and also establish Old Fort Davis as a National Historic Site.
The Rutherfords maintained homes in Odessa during J.T. Rutherford's service in the State Legislature (1948-1954) and in the U.S. Congress (1955-1962). Sara Rutherford sometimes campaigned throughout her husband's sprawling old 16th Congressional District-which included the Big Bend area-and, East to West, extended from Midland through El Paso.This allowed her husband to stay in Washington while Congress was in session, so as not to miss votes. She also campaigned for the 1960 Democratic Presidential ticket of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, along with her close friend, Lady Bird Johnson, and the Kennedy sisters. She wrote in her private memoir that she never had been impressed by power but cherished the friends she made in politics whether in West Texas, Washington or elsewhere.
Mrs. Rutherford was an active member of the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va., serving in numerous capacities including as a Deacon. Her strong faith and wisdom were a strong influence on all who knew her, especially the many young women she mentored and whom she considered her "daughters."
Sara Rutherford is survived by her loving husband of 56 years; by her daughter, Ann Rutherford of Arlington, Va., and her son, Charles Lane Rutherford of Denton; granddaughter, Sara A. Batla; and a grandson, Charles Rutherford Batla; and a large "family of faith."
A celebration of Sara Rutherford's life will be held at Columbia Baptist Church on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. with interment to follow at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
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