Elizabeth Rutledge

Elizabeth Rutledge was born in Oxford, Indiana on June 29, 1924, to Paul and Nelle Young. The youngest of four children, her father was a mechanic, and her mother operated a boarding house for students from nearby Purdue University.

At the age of six or seven, Elizabeth became a Christian because she believed in the life, death, and burial of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Even at a young age, Elizabeth felt loved by the Lord, and she went to church. Her commitment was such that even when her parents did not take her, she walked by herself to Sunday services. Her relationship with the Lord defined her life from the very beginning until the very end.

As a child, Elizabeth loved to roller skate, and she flew up and down the concrete sidewalks of Purdue University. A couple of years after high school, she visited her Aunt Marie in Cheyenne Wyoming. Arriving on her 20th birthday, the next day, Elizabeth went to Sunday services at First Baptist Church. There, she shared a hymnal with a blond-headed young man who was in the military. Eight days later, Elizabeth attended a roller-skating event for young people that was hosted by the church. Andy and Elizabeth could not remember who asked who to skate. However, both of them acknowledged her superior skating skills, and that he was hanging on the railing, trying to keep his feet underneath him. A native of a west Texas ranch between Beeville and Crystal City, Andy had never roller skated before because he grew up on a homestead. This meeting was the beginning of a relationship that spanned more than 75 years. A love story for the ages that has shaped their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and all who love them.

Andy and Elizabeth married the following spring on April 7, 1946. Sometime in September or October of 1945, Andy asked, “When can we get married?” A lifelong befuddling response to her, Elizabeth responded, “I’ll have to ask my mother.” In November, Andy used his whole paycheck, $60 or so, to purchase her engagement ring, and he sent it to her through the mail because he was serving in Saipan in the South Pacific. Together, they graduated college and pursued graduate degrees, raised their two children, Randy and Beth, committed to careers in public education, traveled extensively with family and friends, and built a legacy of faithfulness and love.

Although a book may be written about her in the future, Elizabeth’s life embodied three unparallel characteristics: she lived vibrantly, she loved people, and she was content.

Elizabeth’s was smart, fashionable, and artistic. Elizabeth was intelligent, and this characteristic showed up repeatedly. She managed the family finances until she gave up her checkbook at 99. Her skill in this area allowed her to be unrelentingly generous towards her family, friends, churches, and other organizations. She also used these skills for civic service as the treasurer for Kappa Delta Gamma, an international society for women educators. Until their 90s, Elizabeth and Andy played in at least two weekly bridge gatherings, and she preferred to win (and she usually did). Elizabeth was elegant. She sewed stylish clothes for her family—she wore hot pants in the 1970s with knee boots, routinely scavenged for deals in LA’s shopping district, maintained her vibrant red hair until she retired, weekly had her nails done, and shopped the aisles of Ross Dress for Less with her grandchildren, especially on Tuesday. Elizabeth was an artist whose mediums were food, photography, and oil paints. She was a fantastic cook, and her pecan and lemon meringue pies are legendary. Elizabeth consistently took photographs, and her carefully catalogued and labeled pictorial books spans multiple shelves. Finally, at 65, she began painting in oils under the tutoring of a local artist. She produced more than 50 pieces ranging from a family cat to nature scenes from the Northwest, and her collections hang in the homes of her children and grandchildren.

More than any accomplishment, talent, or achievement, Elizabeth loved people. Her friendships were lifelong. Some started in childhood, and others formed in her 90s at her church. For her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, her love was an immediate presence. Elizabeth had the remarkable gift of making you feel seen, valued, and interesting. She remembered your name, your children’s names, and your friend’s names. She inquired about circumstances in your life, and she listened thoughtfully. The next time, she would ask for an update. You may have forgotten your anniversary, but a card arrived in the mail from her as a reminder of that special day. The love you experienced in her presence was kind, steady, compassionate, and soaked into your soul. Her love was like the love of Jesus.

Deeply rooted in her Christian faith and trust in God’s providence, Elizabeth was content. When asked how she was felt about difficult circumstances or limitations based upon her age, she replied, “I am content.” Throughout her life and in her last years, she accepted her circumstances, and she did not complain about her situation. Until the very end of her days, Elizabeth trusted the love of the God who she responded to as a child in Indiana. She was content.

Elizabeth is survived by her son, Randy (and Jeanne) Rutledge, and daughter, Beth (and Chip) Davis; grandchildren, nieces, and nephews—Wendy Liddell, Misti Sanders, Brice Rutledge, Ryan Davis, Natasha Davis, Josh Wilson, Michael Wilson, Gracie Klontz, and Garrett Rutledge; great grandchildren and great nieces and nephews, great-great grandchildren, and beloved friends who were lifelong like family.

A party was planned for Elizabeth’s 102nd birthday on Monday, June 29, 2026. She died this past Sunday, June 21, 2026. In the same spirit, her life will be celebrated with a service at Grace Baptist Church (Twin Falls, Idaho) at 11:00 am on the 29th, with a reception to follow. In honor of Elizabeth’s life, gifts can be given to Grace Baptist Church.