John William Rutherford

John William Rutherford, age 90, passed away on May 6, 2023.   He was born in Pumpkin Center, east of Paoli, Indiana on May 3, 1933, the son of John Joseph Rutherford and Lenore Fern (Haworth) Rutherford. 

He married Laura Ellen (Wright) Rutherford on May 24, 1958.

John was a 1951 graduate of Paoli High School and a 1955 graduate of Indiana University’s School of Journalism.

After graduation from Indiana University, John joined the United States Army for two years, serving primarily in Seoul, South Korea.

John started his journalism career at what is now named the Evansville Courier & Press.  He then moved to the now named News and Tribune in New Albany, Indiana.   His next move was to the now Columbus Republic, and he ended his time there as City Editor.  John moved to the Carmel News Journal in 1972 as its editor and began the start of over 50 years of residing in Carmel, Indiana.  His longest stretch in his journalism career was at the Indianapolis News from which he retired in 1999.

John was a copyeditor for the Indianapolis News.  He also wrote the Freedom Watch column for the News for many years.

He was a member of the Carmel Lions Club, of which he had served as its President and was a Melvin Jones Fellow.  He also was a member of Sigma Delta Chi – The Society of Professional Journalists, Indiana Pro Chapter, of which he served as its President.  He served as President of the Friends of the Carmel Library. 

Awards he received included the Friend of Freedom Award, Best Agricultural Reporter, Indiana State Police Honorary Lt. Col. and the Indiana State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Liberty Bell Award.

John was an active and devoted genealogist on his family history.  He also wrote the Millennium History of Carmel United Methodist Church.  He was proud of his efforts through Sigma Delta Chi – The Society of Professional Journalist to help get the passage of Indiana’s Open Door Law.

John is survived by his wife Laura Ellen (Wright) Rutherford; son, Mark Rutherford and his partner, Laura Betzinger; daughter, Anne (Rutherford) Brockman and her husband Mike Cook; and Anne’s children and John’s grandchildren, Mark Brockman and Jennie Brockman.

Family and friends will gather on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 1:30 in the Carmel Lions Club, 141 E. Main Street, Carmel, where the Celebration of Life will follow at 3:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory may be made to Carmel Lions Club, 141 E. Main Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, www.carmellions.org or Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, Indiana 46032, www.carmelumc.org

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.

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