OBITUARY MR W. L. RUTTLEDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26242, 28 August 1946, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR W. L. RUTTLEDGE

Mr Wilson Lionel RUttledge, who died suddenly on Saturday night, was the only son of Mrs Susan Ruttledge, of Clark street. He was born in Dunedin and was educated at the Forbury School, and the Otago Boys’ High School. On leaving school he worked in the engineering department of the Hillside workshops. He left for England in 1914 as fourth engineer on an overseas vessel, and when war broke out he joined the merchant navy. He served on a Q (“Mystery”) ship, which was torpedoed, only himself and another man who managed to board a raft, being saved. For conspicuous service he 'was mentioned in despatches. He married a Scottish girl, and came to New Zealand with his wife at the conclusion of the war. He entered the service of the City Corporation at the electricity convertor station and was employed there at the time of his death. Mr Ruttledge was keenly interested in the Labour movement. He was a past president of the Otago Labour Representation Committee, and later became a member of the executive of the Otago Trades Council. He was an enthusiastic member of the St. Kilda Bowling Club and no task was too onerous for “Bill” Ruttledge, as he was generally' known, to carry out in the interests of the club. He had many friends, but his kindly deeds were known only to his more intimate friends. It was an appropriate comment which the Rev. W. Allen Stevely made at the funeral service yesterday morning, when he said that he “held the esteem and affection of all who knew him.” Mr Ruttledge is survived by his wife and a daughter.