Carolyn Rutledge

Carolyn (Carol) Rutledge was born November 2, 1952 in Pittsburg, PA to William and Margaret Smith. The life of our beloved wife and mother was silenced July 13, 2012 after a 2 day battle with a failing heart. At her bedside were her children Rebecca, Jennifer and Gregory; and her husband Jim Rutledge.

At the age of 2, Carol’s parents gathered her and her 2 sisters: Linda and Pam and brother Bill and moved to Garden Grove, CA. Living so close to the beach, Carol developed quite a love for the ocean and swimming, which became her passion. Whether it was rivers, lakes or just the family swimming pool, she couldn’t get enough. As a young teenager, she told her sister “I think I’ll swim 200 laps today”…and she did!

In her early years Carol, like most teenagers, developed a love of music; The Doors, the Beatles and Jefferson Airplane just name a few. In her later years, she would derive enjoyment from Johnny Mathis, The Three Tenors, Andrea Borelli and just about everyone in between.

While attending Rancho Alamitos High School, Carol found her true calling when she discovered she had an extraordinary talent for sewing. She won every sewing award offered and the teachers would marvel at her originality and creativity. After graduation, Carol became a seamstress, doing alterations at a local dry cleaners. She also worked at Sears selling and demonstrating sewing machines. It was about this time, in the early ‘70s, that Carol met the love of her life, Jim Rutledge. After 2 years of dating, Carol and Jim were married in June of 1974.

During the next 12 years, Carol and Jim raised 3 children as they moved from Lakewood to Ventura, CA. Carol quickly learned that her heart was filled with joy for children, any children. Whether it was a day at the beach, a picnic or just a trip to McDonalds, Carol welcomed all of her children’s friends. It was not unusual to have many neighborhood kids around the family dinner table. Even as these kids grew up, they never lost their love for their second “Mom”.

At age 40 with the children almost grown, Carol decided to go back to school and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal State Northridge. She then accepted a teaching position at Oxnard High School. With her love of children, she quickly became instrumental in creating and organizing new programs becoming head of her dept.

Carol was preceded in death by her father William Henry Watt Smith and now leaves behind her husband Jim; daughters, Jennifer and Rebecca; son Gregory; her mother Margaret; mother in law Lorraine Rutledge; sisters, Linda Taylor and Pam Mugridge and brother William Smith; grandchildren Cash Navarro and Symphony Schwartz; numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Carol was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife and friend. No one will ever forget the way she beamed at the sight of little Symphony and Cash while watching A Griswold’s Christmas or other holiday movies with her family. She had a belly laugh that was incomparable and will always be remembered for her bear hugs and squeezes.

As we know she would have wanted, all are welcome as we celebrate Carol’s life at 7:00 p.m. Saturday July 28th in the Chapel at Charles Carroll Funeral Home. 15 Teloma Dr. Ventura, CA 93003. For directions please call 805-642-8134.