Erma I. Rutledge

Erma I. Rutledge, 83, of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at a Topeka care facility. She was born on September 1, 1923 in Topeka, the daughter of Claude and Elsie Beary Anno. She was a life-long Topeka resident. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1941. She was an accounting department manager for Southwestern Bell for thirty years before retiring in 1977. She was a member of the VFW Auxillary, the Phi Tau Omega Sorority where she held various offices including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President and President of her chapter, and a life-time member of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Pioneers. Prior to a stroke in 1976, Erma enjoyed participating in sports, particulary horseback riding, water skiing and softball. Erma married Jess Rutledge on April 5, 1943 in Topeka. He preceded her in death on May 13, 1983. Survivors include one daughter, Jo Newman and her husband, Peter of Topeka, her grandchildren, Jenny Hendrix, Wendy Barnett and Jeremy Lyden, eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Emma Wilson and Ida Hall-Smith both of Topeka. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Burial will follow in Topeka Cemetery. Erma will lie in state from 1:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel where the family will receive friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m.