Melvin Rutherford

Melvin Rutherford, age 79, of Lake Jackson, Texas passed away at his home, Saturday, May 19, 2012. He was born, Friday, June 10, 1932 in Weslaco, Texas to Melvin and Edna Willeford Rutherford. Funeral service will at 12:00 pm Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Restwood Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Greg Smith officiating. Entombment will follow in the Garden of Peace Mausoleum in the Restwood Memorial Park with Keith Bengtson, Will Watson, Eugene Rease, Lonnie Taylor, Loui Meador, Michael Watson, Joseph Taylor and Melvin Taylor serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Dubois, Loui Pendergraft and Robert Shierbaum. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am until service time, 12:00 pm, Friday May 25, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Kenneth & Gordon Rutherford; brother, George Rutherford and Sister Janie Lee Rutherford. He is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Betty Rutherford of Lake Jackson; daughters, Janie Adams of Lake Jackson, Linda Rease and her husband, Gene of Lolita, Texas, Tanya Watson and her husband, Will of Holiday Lakes, Texas, Doris Marie Bengtson and her husband Keith of Lake Jackson, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Melvin loved his family of 37. The family would like to thank A-Med Home & Hospice Care. Thanks to Tanya Watson for being there for Dr’s appointments, hospital confinements and care at home. Her love and support could not have been better. The other daughters helped as they could. Melvin enjoyed his grandchildren and especially the great grandchildren. He loved their kisses and hugs. Melvin and Betty hosted many Thanksgivings, Christmas’s, birthday parties and fathers and mothers day celebrations at their home. There were plans for his 80th birthday party, but now he will have it in Heaven and we will celebrate with him. Melvin was a member of the First Baptist Church in Brazoria and attended until his health did not allow. When he was not able to attend, he always asked what was going on at church, as he missed going. He and Betty Patton were married on June 24, 1951. He worked as a police officer in Angleton for one year before he became a trucker and warehouse manager for Alamo Express for 13 years in Bay City. He drove for Enterprise trucking for 16 years and various other trucking companies. He was known by his many C. B. friends as “Right Guard”. He retired at the age of 65 and began babysitting Kenneth & Kade Bengtson for 7 years.