Viola Gillispie Rutledge, age 86 of 1183 Garrett Road, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
A funeral service will be held 2 pm Monday, October 13 at Fair Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Overlook Cemetery.
Viola was born September 26, 1928 in the Endicott community of Franklin County, VA to the late Eslie and Ellen Hale Gillispie. Her mother taught her the value of hard work. She left school after the eighth grade to begin working in textile mills in Virginia and North Carolina. She returned to school in the 1970s to earn her GED. While working in Draper, she met and married Clifford Rutledge in 1945. He preceded her in death in 1971. In 1976, Viola married Hardy Rutledge. After retiring from Fieldcrest Mills, she and Hardy bought and operated New System Dry Cleaners in Madison, NC for many years. Among her many talents, Viola was an expert seamstress. Her handiwork will be cherished by her family for many years. She was a member of Osborne Baptist Church for more than 50 years and served in many capacities there.
Surviving are her daughter, Rita Rutledge Hunt; granddaughters, Dee Dee Hunt Dishmon and husband Steve, Debra Hunt Johnson, Deanna Hunt and Danielle Mulligan Hale; great grandchildren, Gene Johnson III, Caroline Fraser Inman and husband Christian, Austin Dishmon, Madelynne Mulligan and Sydney Johnson; brother, Glen Gillispie and wife Mary; special niece, Lovviner Scott and husband Dub, along with many other cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Grover Hunt; sisters, Helen Shively and Marie Shelton; and her brothers, Euell, Herman and Roy Gillispie.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to her wonderful caregivers, Barbara Carter, Courtney Dillard and Latoya Dillard.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1 until 2 pm at Fair Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Online condolences can be made to www.fairfuneralhome.com
Rita so sorry to hear of your moms passing she was a very sweet and Godly woman, you can be at peace knowing shes with our lord and savior. God Bless you and your girls my prayers are with you.
Arletta Stowe
Sending thoughts and prayers to each of you; God bless you.
Stephanie Roberson
Rita, Dee Dee, Maddie and Family, We were sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. We pray that God will comfort and strengthen you in your time of sorrow. God Bless all of you.
"Tootie", Todd, Sheila, and Matthew Hurst
Earlene "Tootie" Hurst
I am Eunice Rutledge Smith's daughter and just wanted to express my thoughts and prayers for your family. I will always remember how sweet and beautiful Mrs. Viola was when we would see her at the family reunions. My mother is in the nursing home with Alzheimers but I know she would want your family to know that we are sorry for your loss.
Alice Smith Perkins
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