June 26, 1932 - May 30, 2012

FAIRFIELD, Iowa — Gareth L. “Gary” Rutledge, 79, of Fairfield, passed away May 30, 2012, in his home.

Gary was born June 26, 1932, to William and Emma (Hendricks) Pippenger. He was adopted in 1937 by Marion Rutledge, Emma’s second husband.

He married Wyndi Long in 1980 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Gary attended Elkhart (Ind.) High School from 1946 to 1950. In 1954, he earned a B.A. from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. He earned an M.A. in 1974 from the University of Kansas.

Gary served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1978. After commissioning at graduation from Officers Basic School, he attended naval flight training and became a naval aviator.

His overseas duties were in Iwakuni, Japan, Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 and Okinawa, Japan, for two years.

His stateside duties included seven years teaching college courses at Atlantic Nuclear Weapons Training Center and then U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

He was last stationed in Hawaii for three years before retiring from the Marine Corps, then becoming manager for Hawaii Air Academy, a company specializing in complete flight training.

Gary and Wyndi enjoyed flying so much that he built his own biplane and flew cross-country. He also enjoyed sailing and waterskiing on Eagle Lake in Edwardsburg, Mich.

Gary moved to Iowa in 2008, after 17 years of living in Angel Fire, N.M.

His is survived by his wife, Wyndi; sons Gary E. (Kim) Rutledge of Georgia and Thomas E. Rutledge of Florida; daughters Linda S. Delbridge and spouse of Lake Tahoe, Nev., and Leslie C. (Dean) Brown of Winterpark, Fla.; and brother David (Judy) Pippenger of Elkhart.

His parents and one son, William L. Rutledge, preceded him.

Cards may be sent to Mrs. Gareth Rutledge at 403 West St., Brighton, IA 52540.

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