Charles Andrew Rutherford

Charles Andrew Rutherford, born April 20, 1935 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, passed away on October 26, 2023 in Cornwall, Ontario at the age of 88. Predeceased by his former wife and love of his life, Rose Margaret Rutherford (née Artuso). Loving father of his 6 children, Deborah (Mrs. Mike Day, née Hughes) of Sechelt B.C., Lemont “Monty” Rutherford (Loretta) of Cornwall, ON, Julie (Mrs. Bruce Atkinson, née Rutherford) of Oakville, ON, Shawn Rutherford (Carinne) of Cornwall, ON, Heather (Mrs. Joel Braunstein, née Rutherford) of Kingston, ON, Leslie (Mrs. Kevin Ouderkirk, née Rutherford) of Cornwall, ON. Dear son of the late Lemont “Monty” Andrew Rutherford and Anne Elizabeth Rutherford (née McLean). Loving grandfather “PopPop” of Sean (Molly), Mitch, Alexandra, Erica, Heather (Asim), Kelly (Drew), Thomas, Brandon (Angel), Taylor, Jason, and Ashleigh (Garry). Loving great grandfather of Brayden, Elias, Eisa, Esmaeel, Ezekiel, Arabella, and Domenic. Dear brother of Renie Peters (the Late Sonny), Patsy Walsh (the Late Pat), Heather Mills (Bob), and Nick Rutherford (Donna). Loving uncle of many nieces and nephews who called him Uncle Chuck or Uncle “Brother”. Loving brother-in-law and son-in-law of the Artuso family.

When Charles was a teenager, he joined the Cape Breton Highlander Army Cadet Corps before serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force for over 25 years. Charles worked in Armaments, E.O.D (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) and Demolition and was stationed with his family at several Canadian military bases from coast to coast. He worked and flew on many different aircrafts but his favourite was the Argus of which he had many stories about his missions at home and overseas. After retiring from the RCAF in Comox, B.C., he worked for over 13 years at the Stormont, Dundas, & Glengarry School Board in Cornwall, Ontario. Later, he helped family members with their businesses and was a compassionate caregiver to his mother, Annie, his beloved Rose, and several Artuso family members. He was a hard-working volunteer in the community who coached boys hockey, drove the Zamboni and built and maintained indoor and outdoor skating rinks, built a hunting cabin for the RCAF, helped set up firework displays on the military bases for Canada Day, and was a Jack-of-all-trades who lent a hand whenever needed.

Charles was a loving, devoted father and proud family man of great character. Family gatherings always brought him joy. He was a sweet gentleman with impeccable manners, who maintained a wonderful, silly, sense of humour even during his last days. He had a plethora of his own goofy and witty sayings and jokes for anyone he met. When his grandkids called, he always joked with them and asked if they were Charlie McBoing-Boing or Fred McGillicutty. He made everyone laugh. He was very kind and charitable to those in need. His warm hospitality always made people feel at ease and welcomed in his home. He was a spiritual man who took great comfort in saying his Rosary every day. His love for nature and wildlife was endless and he made sure to always feed the birds and animals that would visit him on a daily basis. He was a great story teller who shared nostalgic memories about his experiences in the RCAF, his love for his pet crows Amos and Andy when he was a young boy, the wildlife on his property, the pranks he’d play on his friends and co-workers, playing at the Sydney reservoir, growing up with his siblings and parents in Sydney and Gabarus, and his many escapades with his friends, Peter “Big Pete” Crinion, Dorothy Marshall, Stewart MacAskill, Gordie Graham and others. He enjoyed listening to Cape Breton fiddle music and was a talented accordion player who entertained military members at home and abroad, and friends and family even up to days before he passed. Young at heart, he lived life to the fullest and kept active throughout the years with his many other hobbies including driving through the countryside, swimming, skating, dancing, hiking, playing cribbage, collecting coins and other memorabilia, reading, gardening, cooking (his specialties were omelets, Chinese food, soups, and lobster/crab dinners), camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, playing darts in which he won trophies and had many 180’s, winemaking in which he won 1st place trophies, and walking by the ocean.

Home was always where his immediate family was but he also considered Gabarus his home and vacationed there most summers to visit his Cape Breton family and friends.

He gave us all a legacy to follow - work hard, take care of your loved ones, laugh, and enjoy the moment. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends.