Carroll Arthur Rutter Jr.

1934 - 2016

Carroll Arthur Rutter, Jr.

Virginia Beach - Carroll Arthur Rutter Jr. passed away peacefully at home in Virginia Beach on April 12, 2016 at the age of 81. He was born on September 2, 1934 in Portsmouth, NH and was the only child of Carroll Arthur Rutter Sr. and Julia Teresa Rutter. He is survived by his wife, Camilla Dameron (Millie) Rutter, with whom he shared 57 precious years.

Art graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School in 1952, received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College in 1956 and his JD from the University of Virginia Law School in 1959. He returned to Norfolk where he had a distinguished career in law for 55 years, founding his own firm which was the predecessor to what is now known as Rutter Mills LLP. Art was a frequent lecturer on legal matters at the state and national level, especially in the field of Maritime Law. He served as Chairman of the Admiralty Section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and was counsel to the International Longshoremen's Association in the Port of Hampton Roads. He was a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Associations.

Among his many civic and philanthropic engagements, Art certainly enjoyed his time as a member of the board of Norfolk State University and as Chairman of the Virginia state chapter of Ducks Unlimited. An avid outdoorsman, Art loved to spend time fishing and hunting from Back Bay, Currituck Sound, Argentina, Wyoming, to Puget Sound. He was always full of life and energy and his peripatetic nature gave rise to the nickname "Roadrunner."

Of all things in his life, the most important was always family. Art was a devoted husband, an extraordinary father and a loving and caring grandfather. He always tried to instill a love of family as the primary objective in life. He will be remembered for his easy-going nature, his quick smile, his generosity, his prodigious vocabulary and of course, the ever present cigar.

Art is survived by his daughter Lucy Rutter Keith and her husband Bryan; his son C. Arthur "Brother" Rutter III and his wife Meredith, and his pride and joy, his grandchildren, Carroll Wade, C. Arthur Rutter IV (Carter), and Austin Rutter.

The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the loving caregivers of Atlantic Shores and Comfort Care Home Health, especially Shay Parker.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am, Thursday, April 21st, at Galilee Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Norfolk Academy, 1585 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502 or the giver's charity of choice.

H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road chapel is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com.