He was born September 26, 1932 and lived in Eldorado, Texas. His parents were Durward and Irene Rutland. He graduated from Eldorado High School in 1951. Later he completed his undergraduate work at Howard Payne (1955) and subsequently received his master’s degree in Educational Administration from Hardin Simmons University (1967).
During his collegiate days at Howard Payne University, he met and married Wanda Mae Treadaway in 1952. In this union they had two sons, Lynn and Craig. He worked for 30 years for the SAISD, serving as an elementary principal on the Fort Concho and Goliad campuses, until his retirement in 1988. Durward and Wanda moved to the Northgate independent living community of Baptist Memorials in 1998. For almost 25 years, he lived comfortably on the BRC campus.
Durward loved his numerous church families, and especially those in which he served as the bi-vocational pastor. Life-long friendships were cherished and celebrated. The Pittsburg Avenue Baptist Church, Llano, TX was organized into a church during his early career tenure. Post retirement, he loved the twelve years that they volunteered spring and fall at the South Llano State Park. He was especially fond of meeting new friends and reconnecting with past students.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Wanda, his little sister Christell, and sister Barbara Hall.
He is survived by their two sons and their families; Lynn and Tami Rutland of Euless, Texas, and Craig and Phyllis Rutland of Hamilton, Texas. In total, he was blessed with eight grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. He is also survived by brother, Harry Rutland of Tatum, Texas.
Durward will be best known for being an award-winning elementary principal, his love for small area churches, his ability to remember everyone’s name, and his daily visits that brought comfort and delight to Wanda during her extended battle with Alzheimer’s.
Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 8, 2021 at Johnson’s Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 9, 2021 in the chapel of Johnson’s Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Eldorado, Texas. Family and friends may express condolences and sign the online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com
