Ann was born on August 4, 1927 in San Jose, CA, the daughter of the late Joseph & Anna Ventimiglia. She died at Pacific Hills Manor in Morgan Hill, CA on May 15, 2011 of declining health conditions, and one week of hospice care. She was 83.
Married to Lewis Rutledge Jr., of Redden, OK, in 1945, they lived happily for over 63 years until Lewis died on October 25, 2008, also 83.
Lewis began his journey in Oklahoma in 1925 as the youngest son of two wonderful parents. He grew up in a large family on a farm and worked hard for a living. Toward the end of The Great Depression, he made his way to California seeking a better life in the west. When he settled, he began working in the canneries located in Santa Clara Valley. It was there that he met Ann.
When they first met, Ann thought that Lewis was flirting with her cousin. However, she quickly realized that Lewis had his eyes set on her when he asked her out on a date. Soon afterwards, she knew that she had met the man that she would marry.
Lewis courted Ann by singing country western songs to her while playing his acoustic guitar. They fell deeply in love. However, before they could be married, they needed to receive the blessing from Ann’s father, who made it very clear that he did not want an “Okie” to become part of their Italian heritage. Eventually, a wedding date was set and they began their wonderful life together.
Ann enjoyed being a homemaker and lived for her family. She enjoyed gardening and had many hobbies including needlepoint, knitting, painting ceramic figurines, and collecting “Tweety Bird” ceramics. She was also a fantastic cook specializing in Italian dishes that kept her family going back for second helpings. In her youth, she enjoyed playing the cello in school.
Lewis had many hobbies, including model railroading, tropical fish aquariums, fishing, riding horses, and golfing. Of these, he particularly enjoyed playing golf with his sons and other family members and friends.
Together, they belonged to bowling leagues with friends and co-workers, traveled with cousins and family with their RV trailer to several local vacation spots, enjoyed road trips, and were dedicated members of their church. They also enjoyed co-managing apartment complexes together for over thirty years. One of their favorite local areas to visit was Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, CA and the fascinating town of Carmel, CA.
Lewis and Ann lived in San Jose, CA all of their married life and are survived by their three children, Sandy, Lewis, and Joseph, grandchildren Curt, Randy, Chris, Nick, & Ben, and great grandchildren, Mariah, Carly, Callie Ann, and Cody. Ann is also survived by her brother Simon Ventimiglia and wife Mary of Roseville, CA.
Services for Ann will be held in the Chapel of Roses at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park in San Jose, CA on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 2:00 P.M.
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