Reverend Rutenbar

George H. Rutenbar went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 25, 2012. He was born on May 1, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan, to parents George Rutenbar and Fern Simpson Rutenbar. He graduated from Redford High School and attended Wayne State University. He had a great love for music and baseball and played in bands as well as on several baseball teams. At eighteen years of age George Rutenbar joined the US Navy during World War II to train to be a pilot. He had never been in a plane, but after graduation he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air station. After WWII, George played centerfield for four years at Michigan State where he led the team with a batting average of .377. He also won the Helms Foundation Award as the most outstanding baseball player in the US in addition to twice winning the Coaches' All American Award. George went on to play three years in the Chicago White Sox organization where he was named most valuable player on three occasions. After graduating from college, George was hired as an agent by the New England Life Insurance Company where he progressed to own the agency in Nashville, TN. The call by God to enter full-time ministry was so distinct that George left business and moved to Dallas, Texas, along with his wife Alice, who was a Chief Petty Officer whom he met in the Navy, to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. He was named the assistant to the President by Dr. John Walvoord and served for twenty years in that capacity. It was George's great joy to start Trinity Bible Church in Richardson, Texas, during that time. George was recently honored at the church's 50th Anniversary celebration. He served as senior pastor in Borger, Texas, and Bethany Baptist Church in Thousand Oaks, California. His retirement took him to Waxahachie Bible Church where he served as an elder and taught an adult Bible study class. He also served as interim pastor for churches in Ft. Worth and Alvin, Texas. George and Alice's marriage was blessed by four children: Marsha Rutenbar, Steve Rutenbar, David Rutenbar, and Camille "Missy" Glass. He had seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife, Alice Keith Rutenbar; a brother Harold "Buzz" Rutenbar and two sisters, Shirley Tibbenham and Mary Lou Rutenbar. He is preceded in death by his mother and father Fern and George Rutenbar. George loved to travel and spread the gospel wherever he went, preaching in most major cities in the United States and many times abroad including Israel, Africa and the Middle East. On May 25, 2012, death came to George as a close friend and ushered him into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ whom he had loved and served all his adult life. Christ greeted George with outstretched arms and said, "This is your new home. Welcome, my son." For all those who knew him and were encouraged by him, George taught us how to live and how to die. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. A memorial service, celebrating a life devoted to Christ, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Waxahachie Bible Church with Dr. Phil Howard and Rev. Bruce Zimmerman officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Wayne Boze Funeral Home, 1826 West Highway 287 Business, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. If desired, memorials may be made to Dallas Theological Seminary, 3909 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204 or go directly to www.dts.edu

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