Bruce Wirle Rutland, 78, of Tifton died Sunday, July 14, 2013, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at Lakeview Baptist Church in Lenox. Rev. Dillard Ensley will officiate with a eulogy to be given by Johnny Rutland. Interment will follow in Rutland Family Cemetery. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Allen, Emerson Wetherington, Duane Wetherington, Benny Brookshire, Gibbs Patrick Jr. and the employees of Rutland Farms. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Rutland was born on February 9, 1935 in Tift County and was the son of John W. Rutland and Eula Bea Ivey Rutland, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ray Rutland and Joe Rutland. He was the owner of Rutland Farms and a member of Lakeview Baptist Church in Lenox. He was chosen as Young Farmer of the year for the State of Georgia in 1974 and was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Mr. Rutland is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Kim Rutland of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Tonita and Ricky Moore of Lenox; the mother of his children, JoAnn Rutland of Tifton; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Billy Rutland of Tifton, Johnny and Freida Rutland of Tifton, Jerry and Cindy Rutland of Tifton and Donald and Molly Rutland of Tallahassee, Florida; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Kyle and Maria Rutland, Ryan and Meredith Rutland, Alex Rutland, Ross Rutland, Broc and Lyndsay Moore, Whitney and Brett Tomlinson, Emily and Tyler Sumner and Buck Moore; eight great-grandchildren, Will Rutland, Bryce Rutland, Wyatt Rutland, Canton Moore, Atalee Moore, Brody Tomlinson, Brooke Tomlinson and Tyler Tomlinson; special friend and care-giver, Glenda Seper; and many special nieces and nephews, that were all dear to him.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Lakeview Baptist Church, P. O. Drawer 509, Lenox, GA 31637; or to UGA Foundation, c/o Tift County Cooperative Extension and 4-H Endowment, P. O. Box 7548, Tifton, GA 31793.