William "Bill" Rutledge

William "Bill" A. Rutledge was born on August 12, 1941 in Dyess, Arkansas to Andrew and Lena Rutledge. The evening of February 21, 2026 he went into the loving arms of Jesus. 

Bill attended High School in Conway, Arkansas where he met his wife, Lois. They married in 1960. They had a blessed and happy life together. During their 65 years of marriage there was joy, with plenty of hardships, which they weathered and learned from - together. She was his one true love. She will miss him always. Bill was hired by Southwestern Bell at the age of nineteen, just a few months before they married. He began there as a lineman and quickly moved up the ranks into management. During the time when landline phones were how we communicated, he always knew how to fix the problem - or he worked until he knew how to fix the problem! He earned full retirement at 49 years old from AT&T. He spent the next decade as a true entrepreneur. Vacuum cleaners, telephone systems, anything needing repair - he repaired with a joyful heart! He could fix literally anything - wireline telephone problems, cars, houses, plumbing, electrical, boats and so much more! He loved to hunt and fish and to be outside in the woods. His brain was his greatest asset, a close second was his sweet demeanor. He was wickedly smart but no one ever knew it, because his humbleness outshined everything else. He never met a stranger and he loved to help anyone! 

He is survived by his entire immediate family. We lost our patriarch first. He adored his two daughters Kelli Butcher and Ashley Koonce. He continued to love and serve them as their own families grew to include their husbands, Thad Butcher and Tom Koonce. He was a fun Pop to Zachary Butcher and his wife, Gabby and to Erin Dulle and her husband Garrett. He and Zach had many serious chess games! He also had special grandsons Nathan Koonce (Kerry), Brent Koonce (Allison), and Nyle Koonce, whom he got to spend time with "fixing stuff" and making jokes. Also six great grandchildren - that he would talk to and hold, even though his memory was really not good enough to remember who they were, they made him smile anyway.

 He will be missed. He made a difference in this world by his loving and kind heart. Lastly, but most importantly he loved the Lord Jesus more than anything else. We rejoice in his freedom from pain and confusion and believe he is visiting with his parents and sisters (Joyce and Donna and his brother Daniel) on this glad morning.

 A graveside memorial service will be held Friday February 27 at 12 pm at Rest Hills Memorial Cemetery 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117. The service will be officiated by Ken Shaddox, PhD. 

In lieu of flowers, we ask you make donations to your choice of CARTI or The Alzheimers Foundation, in hope his suffering will ease the suffering of those who come after him.