Barbara Green Rutledge's Obituary
Barbara Bolton Green Rutledge died June 30, 2025, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1936 to Ralph Wilson and Marion Elizabeth Bolton Green.
Barbara married her high school sweetheart, Elliott Moye Rutledge, Jr., in their hometown of Nashville. They were married for 55 years until his death in 2013. Prior to her marriage, she attended Belmont University and later completed her baccalaureate degree in education at the University of Arkansas after she and her husband moved to Fayetteville. Barbara was a Tennessean who quickly adopted the beautiful hills of the Ozarks and the maple trees of Fayetteville as her beloved home. She loved living in their home on Mount Sequoyah and hearing the hourly chimes of Old Main. Her husband was a Professor of Soil Sciences in the Agronomy Department at the University of Arkansas.
All of the Rutledge children were born in Fayetteville, two of whom survive: Malinda Rutledge Kirchner of Little Rock (Larry) and Elliott Moye Rutledge, III “Trey”, of Fayetteville. She was predeceased by her daughter, Elizabeth Lucile Rutledge, who died in infancy in 1958. She is also survived by grandsons: Stephen Bolton Kirchner of Little Rock, John Rutledge Kirchner, Elliott Moye Rutledge, IV “Drew”, and Cole Dixon Rutledge, all of Fayetteville; and great-granddaughter, Phoebe Page Rutledge of Fayetteville. Also surviving: brother, Ralph Wilson Green, Jr. (Marilyn Pedersen) of Algodones New Mexico; nieces, Sonja Elizabeth Pedersen-Green (Alexander Isper) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Alexandra Blythe Pedersen-Green (Chris Turner) of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; great-niece, Findley Grace Green, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; and bonus granddaughter, Maggie Floyd Kirchner of Little Rock.
Barbara taught school at Washington Elementary School in Fayetteville for 17 years where she made life-long friends. She is remembered for her student-centered lesson plans regarding the importance of Arkansas history. Long interested in history, she co-authored the book, Light on the Hill, about the almost two-century history of her Fayetteville church, First United Presbyterian Church. She was an active member of the church for almost 60 years, serving in many volunteer roles such as an elder, Stephen Minister, teacher, member of the pastor nominating committee, Presbyterian Women, and editor of the church cookbook, We Gather Together.
Barbara traveled the United States, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America with her husband, Moye, and friends. She enjoyed forty years of weekly Friday night dinners with dear friends, participated in book and bridge clubs, and entertained friends and family at the ancestral Rutledge farm in Sumner County, Tennessee. She was a master gardener, a living history volunteer at the Washington County Headquarters House Museum, and a board member of First School at First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville. Most of all, she was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Washington Regional Home Hospice and Willard Walker Hospice Home. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on July 9, 2025, at First United Presbyterian Church, 695 E. Calvin Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas with the Reverend Steward Smith officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First United Presbyterian Church or First School, both at 695 E. Calvin Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703.
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