Jack Rutledge

Jack Brown Rutledge went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He drew his last breath on August 25, 2024, with his beloved wife, Sharon, by his side.

Jack was a quiet man with a reserved demeanor, so you knew it was important when he had something to say. During the last few weeks of his life, when he had to make the difficult decision to end the harsh chemotherapy treatments, he received clarity from the Holy Spirit one evening while he was in the hospital. The Holy Spirit assured him he would be comforted in the arms of Jesus, and immediately, a sense of warmth and peace came over him. Jack told his friends and family the story, which was unusual for such a private man. He proudly shared his witness and testimony with everyone who would listen.

Jack was born on May 12, 1942, in Jasper, Alabama, to Merrell Rutledge and Irene Brown Rutledge. He was educated in the Walker County school system and graduated from Walker County High School in 1960. His mother was a 1937 graduate of the University of Alabama, so Jack followed in her footsteps and enrolled at the Capstone. Because of his excellent grades in high school, Jack was invited to live in an honor's dorm at the university but declined because he'd rather play cards and have fun with his friends in other dorms. Most students didn't have cars on campus in those days, so Jack would often hitchhike between Tuscaloosa and Jasper when he wanted to go home for a visit.

Jack graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He moved to Huntsville and started his career with Chrysler Corporation, which had a contract with NASA to build the Saturn V launch vehicle for the Apollo program. In 1966, Jack was transferred to the John F. Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, to work on the Saturn V project. He was on a team tasked with designing the swing arm on the rocket launch pad.

While in Huntsville, he met the love of his life, Sharon Womack. They married at the Madison County Courthouse on May 12, 1967. Their wedding dinner was a hamburger and fries at the local McDonald's. They moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, while Jack continued to work on the Saturn project.

Following the project's end in 1968, the couple moved to Birmingham, where Jack began a 37-year career with Rust Engineering (later Raytheon and The Washington Group). Jack's expertise was industrial piping, and his work took him across the United States and to international destinations to work on projects. He once spent several weeks in Brazil on a job site.

Jack briefly retired in 2005 at age 63 but quickly became bored with too much time on his hands. He returned to the workforce as an engineering consultant and later joined Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, where he was employed at the time of his illness. In all, Jack's engineering career spanned 59 years.

Jack and Sharon's firstborn, Jennifer Leigh, was born in 1970, and Jon Jackson was born in 1973. Jack was an excellent provider for his family, and his wife and children have fond memories of happy times at their home in Bluff Park and later Riverchase. The family enjoyed spending time together at the beach. Jack's grandchildren brought him great joy; some say he became a changed man after they came along.

Jack was a man of many interests. He was a talented fisherman and often caught fish when others in his group did not. Growing up, he enjoyed swimming and water skiing on the Sipsey River. Jack was an avid golfer, was a bowling team member for years, and loved watching sports on television. He was a lifelong fan of the Crimson Tide and the Atlanta Braves. Each fall, Jack eagerly looked forward to the NFL Fantasy Football League organized by his grandson, Brock. He was a multiple fantasy football champion and was hard to beat.

Jack loved to read, his favorite genres being science fiction and mystery novels. He kept up with local and world events while reading the daily newspaper in his favorite blue chair. Jack has had several must-watch television shows, including Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Matlock, and Hill Street Blues.

In later years, Jack and Sharon enjoyed spending time with their "travel buddies," Glenda and Johnny Arther and Donna and Fred Daugherty. They took several vacations together and long road trips to many exciting places.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Merrell Rutledge, and brothers-in-law, Freddy Womack, Jerry Womack, and David Womack.

Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon Womack Rutledge; children Leigh Rutledge Wooten (Wes) and Jon Jackson Rutledge (Ginny); his brother Joe Rutledge (Gloria); grandchildren, Brock Bellsnyder (Kara), Elaina Bratina, Jack Bratina, Sara Jackson Rutledge, Reese Rutledge, and Mae Rutledge; and great-grandchildren Tatum Bellsnyder and Hudson Bellsnyder. He is also survived by Jesse Wooten and Farrah Wooten, daughters of Wes Wooten.

Other survivors include his aunt, Hallie Norris; sisters-in-law Gloria Rutledge and Wanda Womack; nieces and nephews: Jeannie Rutledge Smith, Jeff Rutledge, Shawn Womack, Marc Womack, Gina Womack, and Alan Womack; numerous cousins, of which Jeff Donaldson, Al Shumaker, and Charles Sherer were also good friends; longtime friend and brother in Christ, Bob Chapman; and a special group of childhood friends: Joe Duggar, George Ellis, Joe "Boogie" Franklin, Jimmy Garrett, and Charles Sherer.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 2701 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover, Alabama 35244. The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m., and the service will begin at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society for adenoid cystic carcinoma research or Riverchase Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama.