Colonel (Ret.) Wilson "Bill" R. Rutherford, III


Colonel (Ret.) Wilson "Bill" R. Rutherford III, 64, died on Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the Perry Point Veterans Hospital after a long illness.
Born January 11, 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Wilson R. Rutherford, Jr. and Ella Virginia Rutherford, Bill graduated from Syracuse University in 1966 where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He received an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973, and graduated from the National War College in 1986. On December 7, 1968, he married the former Carolyn Morrison Lacy of Richmond, Virginia.
He was a longtime resident of Harford County, retiring there after 27 years of dedicated military service. Following military retirement, Bill worked for Governor Schaefer as Director of the Maryland International Division of the Department of Business and Economic Development, and later for Harford County as Director of Procurement and as Military Liaison to the Office of Economic Development.
Bill served in the United States Army until 1992, and was the Garrison Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground from 1988-1990. Subsequently, he served as the G4 for the U.S. Army VII Corps during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he oversaw all logistical operations for the Corps. For his heroic action in Vietnam, Bill received a Silver Star. Other awards and decorations include three Legion of Merits, Purple Heart, four Meritorious Service Medals as well as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Vietnamese Ranger Badge during his distinguished military career.
His life work also included various civic activities, including the Governor's Task Force for Economic Development, the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board, the VII Corps Desert Storm Veteran's Association, a Trustee at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Ordnance Museum and a founding member of the Higher Education and Applied Technology (HEAT) Center and the Army Alliance.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Carolyn; two children, Major Wilson "Trey" Roller Rutherford IV of Fayetteville, North Carolina and wife Caitlin, and Megan McCarron Rutherford of Chicago, Illinois; one grandchild, Wilson Roller Rutherford V; a sister, Charlene Rutherford Kriz of Middletown, Virginia and husband Scott; and an aunt, Mildred Sanders of Parkville, Maryland. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Beverly Rutherford Mellot.
Bill will be especially remembered for his honorable service to country and selfless acts of heroism in time of war. His ability to bridge relationships between Aberdeen Proving Ground and Harford County made a lasting impact on both the County and Garrison. He was a devoted father and most loving husband.
A memorial service will be held at the Main Post Chapel, Aberdeen Proving Ground on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with reception immediately following at the Officer's Club. A private burial is planned at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Rutherford family requests that memorial contributions be made in Bill's name to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/content/view/474/971/Funeral arrangements are under the care of Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 S. Washington Street, Havre de Grace, MD 21078, (410) 939-2882.