Bennett Wade Rutherford of Clarksville, Tennessee, passed away in the early morning hours of December 10, 2021. A private celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date.
He is survived by his wife, Karen (Bellamy); daughter, Kim, and husband Mark Winn, and their daughter Kali; and son, Josh, and his wife Keli (Allsbrooks), and their daughters, Riley and Kate.
During his life, he answered to Benny, Ben, Sergeant Rutherford, and Mr. Rutherford, but was proudest to be Dad and Pops. Ben was the youngest of eleven children, born to Ina and Graham Rutherford, on March 4, 1946. He grew up in Havre de Grace, Maryland, where he loved to play baseball and watch the Baltimore Orioles. In 1965, Ben was called up for service and served overseas in Vietnam for 18 months during 1966 and 1967, earning the Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal among other awards. He was then stationed at Fort Campbell, where he met Karen Bellamy, who would become his wife of 47 years.
He and Karen lived in Clarksville with their two children, Kim and Josh, while Ben taught small engine repair at Northwest and Clarksville High School before founding Vista Small Engines, which he owned until 1988. During this time, he was also a little league baseball coach and Cub Scout den master. After selling Vista Small Engines, Ben returned to work at Fort Campbell. He and Karen spent many weekend nights drinking coffee and playing thousands of hands of Skip-Bo around a kitchen table with Carolyn and Del Fisher while their sons, Josh and Colin, ran around the house doing God-knows-what. In 1998, Ben’s first grandchild, Kali, was born to Kim and Mark. Ben retired from Fort Campbell and spent his time building, restoring, or fixing something for someone or finding something to build, restore, or fix if nothing was available. He also became an active member of V.F.W. Post 4895. In 2006, Ben had two more granddaughters, Riley and Kate, born to Josh and his wife, Keli.
Ben’s final years were spent as he had spent his life: Making everyone else’s better. He loved being in the yard or shop; he loved his dogs, a boxer named Ziva and a golden retriever named Abby; he loved his children and grandchildren; and he loved his wife. Not a day passed that he did not do something for one of these in addition to repairing an engine for whoever asked. We know he and Del are shuffling the Skip-Bo deck, drinking coffee, and patiently waiting for the next game.
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider making a donation to a charitable or veteran’s organization.
Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 213-3603. Online condolences may be made at www.nealtarpleyparchman.com.