Daniel O. Rutledge

 

Daniel O. Rutledge of Rawlins, Wyoming passed away on July 19, 2023 at the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, at the age of 80.

          Daniel Orbin Rutledge was born to Ira E. Rutledge and Ruth Rutledge on June 18, 1943 in Harriman, Tennessee. He moved with the family to Florida, where he attended North Marion High School. Daniel enlisted in the Army, February 1967. He was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia where upon completion of AIT he was sent to Germany to begin work as an Ordination Transportation Specialist, hauling ammo and bombs around Europe. He was honorably discharged with a Good Conduct, Expert Rifle, Pistol and National Defense Medals. He returned to Florida and undertook a three-year, 6,000 hour, apprenticeship with Caterpillar Corporation to become a Master CAT diesel mechanic. He worked for RING Power CAT in Florida until 1976, when Dan moved his family to Rawlins, Wyoming where he called home for the next 47 years.

          In 1988, he started his second career as a truck driver, where he and his wife drove together as a team for 30 years.

          Daniel was an avid hunter and fisherman all of his life.

          Daniel will be missed by his wife of 50 years, Betty J. Rutledge; son, Christopher Rutledge and his wife Rhonda; daughter, Diane Steele and her husband Paul; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Rutledge and Ruth Cooper; stepdad, T.W. Cooper and his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. M.G. Prince.

          Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 5-7PM at Casada Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the First Southern Baptist Church with Pastor Jason Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Rawlins Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors by the U.S. Army and American Legion, Post 122.