In Memory of Fred. A Rutledge (August 11, 1931 – October 3, 2019)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Fred A. Rutledge, who died on October 3, 2019, at the age of 88.

Fred was born on August 11, 1931, in San Antonio, TX to Lee Roy Rutledge and Nina Watts Rutledge. He attended Methodist Churches regularly until he left San Antonio to attend the University of Texas at Austin, TX. In 1953, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. In college, Fred became dissatisfied with religion and did not attend church. Through his readings in philosophy, he discovered Unitarianism. He started attending the new fellowship in Austin and was touched by the self-reliance and independence of the Unitarians.

From January 1953 to January 1955, Fred served the U.S. Naval Reserve. While in the Navy he joined the Memphis Unitarian Church, TN. On the base in Corpus Christi, TX, he joined the Unitarian Fellowship; worked with the R.E. committee, finances, program, church school class, adult discussion group and preached on at least two occasions; and his desire to the Unitarian Ministry grew. He wanted to help spread Unitarianism without becoming evangelist and serve humankind in the capacity of a minster. He applied to Starr King School for the Ministry, CA and graduated with his Master of Divinity in 1958.

Rev. Rutledge was ordained on October 1, 1958, by the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian, Petersham, MA where he carried out his first ministry (1958-1962) and strengthened the relationship of the church to the community. He then served the parish in Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, Danvers, MA (1962 -1965) and the Unity Church Unitarian, Saint Paul, MN (1966-1970). Subsequently he was assistant minister at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, MN (1970-1971) and at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, MD (1971-1974).

After years of life in the UU ministry, Rev. Rutledge retired on January 1, 1978. Following retirement, he helped his daughter open Rutledge Costume Company which was voted best in Baltimore in 1994. Years later, he served as an interim minister at the Southwest UU Church, North Royalton, OH (1995 to 1996).

Rev. Rutledge provided his services as a fellowship consultant to the Southern New England Regional Conference (Unitarian) (1961-1962), and as a camp counselor at Ferry Beach, ME (1961-1969). From 1963 to 1964, he served the New England Interdistrict R.E. Committee, Mass. Bay District (as a Representative and Chairman), Jr. High Institute Planning Sub-Committee, and Joseph Priestly District R.E. Committee. He was a Junior High Camp Director for Prairie Star District (1968-1969). In 1971, he facilitated the Joseph Priestly District R.E. Committee Planning R.E. Summer Institute. Furthermore, Rev. Rutledge was President for the Greater Washington Area R.E. Council (1972-1973).

Fred marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other ministers in Selma. He went beyond the congregations he served, serving the Petersham Crafts Center, MA as an instructor of pottery (1960-1962) and as a board member (1961). He was Co-Director of Baltimore Learning Center, MD (free school, gr. K through 9), and camp counselor with YMCA Camp for Inner City Youth. He served the Citizens Advisory Committee, Topsfield, MA; was Chairman of the Student Development Committee, City Center for Learning, St. Paul, MN and an assistant chaplain at Delaware State Hospital, DE.

In his spare time, Fred enjoyed sailing, folk music, science fiction, photography, pottery, and cabinet making.

Fred’s daughter Anita recalled: “My dad and mom were both wonderful people and loved the church. They were camp counselors at Ferry Beach Unitarian Camp, Rowe Camp and Camp Weirdbeard, in Wisconsin which, of course, was named after him by the children. Books, music and social justice were their loves and causes.”

Fred’s daughter Nina offered this beautiful remembrance of her father: “We cared for Dad in his last few years, he died at my house. My favorite memory of him was fishing in one of Minnesota’s 10,000 Lakes. I was probably seven and he put the worms on the hook for me and I cast over the side of our rowboat and pulled up sunfish after sunfish, which he took off the hook and put in a bucket of water if they were big enough to keep. If they weren’t, he let me release them. As the youngest of four kids, it’s the only time I remember having an adventure of just the two of us.

I also remember on our many family trips in the car, I’d pretend to be asleep at the end of the day so dad would carry me into the motel, or wherever we were staying. I would hear my brother and sisters complain that I wasn’t really asleep, but as the littlest, I felt being carried in was my due, so I faked it anyway. “

Fred is survived by his daughters, Cynthia Lee Rutledge, Anita (Tita) Lynn Rutledge, and Nina Amaya Rutledge. He was predeceased by his wife Ann Rutledge and his son Frederick Alvah Rutledge Jr. (Ric).