Doyle Anderson Rutledge

Doyle Anderson Rutledge, most commonly referred to as Andy, passed away June 20, 2022 at his home. He was born on August 19, 1941 son of William and Elsie Rutledge. Andy enjoyed hunting, traveling, but most of all enjoyed spending time with his family and animals. He will forever be remembered for his many life skills, as a Patriot, husband, father, electrician heating and air specialist, and mechanic skills. There was nothing he could not do once he put his mind to it. He retired from the Navy after 22 years, built his own home and barn, raised pigs and cattle, but most of all the best biscuit and gravy maker in the family for the family on Sundays.

Andy lived a colorful life that was full of adventures up until retirement in 2005, thanks to 22 years of military service in the Navy by serving on Aircraft carriers, working as a construction electrician for many years and as a maintenance man for HUD housing and as a HVAC specialist as Rutledge Enterprises. Besides the life experiences of being a father, the most influential years were in the Navy serving on/at the USS Oriskany (CVA 34), VFAW Three, Naval Air Station, San Diego, CA, Naval Air Technical Training Cener, Jacksonville, FL, USS Coral Sea (CVA 43), Naval Auxiliary Air Field, Fallon, NV, USS John F. Kennedy (CVA67), Naval Air Station, Oceana, VA, and USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by ten brothers and sisters and his grandson, Ronald Lucas. Andy leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 45 years, Eileen Mae Rutledge. His five children, Doyle Raymond, Dayle Alligood (Bruce Sr), Lisa Lucas (Randy), Dillon Summers (Janie), and Shonda. Eight grandchildren, April Knoten, Bruce Jr and Tim Alligood (Casey), Ann Swafford (Dameion), David Duff (Amanda), Isaac Leighton, Emily Lucas, and Matthew Summers. Seven great grandchildren, Lyndsey and Seth Shmucker, Kiya, Juniper and Aria Alligood, Charlotte Pitts and Lillith Swafford. and a magnitude of extended family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon, July 10, 2022 from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM at Companion Funeral Home in Cleveland. There will be a Military Honors Memorial at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, July 11, 2022 at 10:30 AM. For Sunday’s service there will be a live and recorded feed available for those unable to attend through Companion’s Facebook page. You are encouraged to share a memory of Andy and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens is honored to assist his family with these arrangements.