James David Rutherford

Dave was born on August 12, 1935, in Gillett, Texas, to Britton and Mabel Dickey Rutherford. Shortly after his birth, the family settled in New Braunfels—the place Dave would call home—where he grew up, got married, and raised a family.

Dave was the youngest child and embraced that role wholeheartedly. He was an endless well of expertly told stories, often recalling how he ran around New Braunfels with his three siblings—Louise Rutherford Hall, Dickey Rutherford, and Ann Rutherford Berenger—causing trouble, having fun, and keeping their parents on their toes.

Dave was an athlete at his core. He was a standout high school football player and was the lead hitter on the New Braunfels Lions baseball team. He once hit one of the longest balls ever seen at West End Park, according to a 1955 Herald-Zeitung article. He also excelled in basketball.

Dave attended Texas Christian University, then Southwest Texas State University, where he played college football and studied English literature. He kept in touch with many of his high school and college classmates and teammates, many of whom still refer to him as “The Beast”—an apt nickname, indicative of both his physical size and his competitive spirit. Despite spending several years in college, he never graduated because, as he put it, “he met a girl…”

On June 4, 1960, Dave married the love of his life, Barbara Holley, at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. They met in New Braunfels while in a bowling league together, and were engaged just six months later. He always said meeting her was the best day of his life—and if you knew Dave and Barbara, you could feel the strong and unwavering love they shared. Their love story was one to look up to and strive for.

In 1961, they welcomed their first child, Michael Rutherford. In 1964, their daughter, Jamie Rutherford Butler, joined the family. The Rutherford household was always filled with love and laughter. Dave believed in an open-door policy, always welcoming anyone and everyone to join in on the singing, jokes, and expertly planned pranks. Together, Dave and Barbara were the perfect example of steady, nurturing, and devoted parents. They showed Michael and Jamie how to pass that same love and devotion down to their children.

Dave worked as a welder for 28 years, then joined the maintenance department at Comal ISD, where he worked until he retired in 2003. He had a prodigious work ethic that he also passed on to his children and grandchildren.

But those who knew Dave knew that, although he was a serious man, he did not take things too seriously. Dave’s sense of humor was legendary and singular. When Dave caught wind that one of his teenage children was leaving through the kitchen window some evenings, his solution was not confrontation, but rather to cover the windowsill with fragile objects and wait patiently for the ensuing clatter to wake Barbara. For a time, Dave’s home phone was one digit off from a local video rental. Misdials were a regular occurrence. Dave delighted in informing would-be customers that although he did not have their favorite movie in stock on VHS, he probably did have it in paperback. Dave loved to laugh and loved to make others laugh.

Dave was a renaissance man in every sense of the word. Despite his blue-collar credentials, he loved writing poetry and was extremely well read (he was always working on at least two books). He had a rich baritone that he lent to the church choir. He was also known to spontaneously break into song in the halls of many CISD schools, at the grocery store, on his back porch, or at the dinner table. He loved to sing, did not require an audience, and almost never waited for an invitation. Always passionate about athletics, Dave enjoyed scouting for the Canyon High School football team when Michael was in school. And he loved watching his grandchildren play sports. When some of his grandchildren showed a talent for drama, he followed their progress with the same zeal.

Dave was the funniest person you’d ever meet, the loudest person in every room, your personal encyclopedia on the Great American Songbook, and the greatest napper. He knew his way around a pool table and he loved chess. He was always working on a Sudoku, could reliably solve the New York Times crossword puzzle, and was the only person you knew who could attribute a song to every word in the English dictionary—and sing it on command. In all of his 89 years, Dave never met a single stranger. He was a principled man who always did what he thought was right. He was a man of deep faith.

But most of all, Dave was a loving husband, the best father and Grandpa, and was a fierce and loyal friend. He was a radiant force whose impact on his community and the people who knew him is immeasurable and cannot be overstated.

Dave is predeceased by his wife, Barbara, his parents, Britton and Mabel Rutherford, and his siblings, Louise Rutherford Hall, Dickey Rutherford, and Ann Rutherford Berenger. He is survived by his two children: Michael Rutherford (Kim) and Jamie Rutherford Butler (Vince); eight grandchildren: Jake Rutherford (Casey), Reece Butler, Jess Rutherford (Kori), Zach Butler, Carly Butler, Ryan Cooper (Megan), Lauren Cooper Henk (Hunter), and Mallory Cooper Johnson (Cade); and his great-grandchildren: Owen and Shane Rutherford, Tinley and Ayden Henk, Knox Johnson, and one on the way. Dave is also survived by his nephew, Robert Hall, and two nieces, Shelley Holley Gonzalez (Bert) and Cindy Holley Davis (Joe), as well as countless beloved friends and family members.

The family would like to sincerely thank the caregivers at Brookdale Senior Living, Hope Hospice, and Dignity Care for their tremendous care and support. In lieu of flowers or donations, memorial contributions can be made to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels or a charity of your choice.

There will be a visitation on Monday, August 18, at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa Street, New Braunfels, Texas. The family will receive visitors at 9 a.m. in the chapel, with a funeral service at 10 a.m. Following the service, there will be a private family burial at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.