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Louise Charles Rutz, 93, died Monday, May 29, 2000 at her home in Placitas. Louise was born August 28, 1906 in Belleville, Kansas, daughter of Tom and Bula Dancy Charles. In 1907, Louise came with her family to Alamogordo. She received her early education at the Logwood School in Penasco Canyon, near Cloudcroft, later attending Alamogordo Schools, where she completed high school in 1924. She graduated in 1928 from New Mexico A & M College, now NMSU. On June 1, 1928, Louise married Ben Rutz, a college classmate, a marriage which lasted over 66 years, until Ben's death in 1995. Through the years, the Rutz family lived at Mesilla Park, Alamogordo and Albuquerque, moving to Placitas in 1974. Louise wrote feature stories and articles for newspapers and magazines, and compiled family history material about the Rutz and Charles families. She shared her writing and artistic talents with her family, and the organizations with which she was involved. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Zeta Tau Alpha college sorority, NM Engineers' Wives Club, among others. In Alamogordo, she served as president of The Alamogordo Women's Club in 1951-52. After locating in Placitas, she became an active member of Las Placitenas Extension Club and Jardineros de Placitas garden club. Louise leaves to mourn her death a large and devoted family, including two daughters, Margaret Rutz of Placitas and Lois Harrington and her husband, Frank of Bryan, TX; one son, Charles Rutz and wife, Nancy of Yorba Linda, CA; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Nicki and Ray George, Craig and Lisa Harrington, Roy and Teri Harrington, Tom and Jennifer Harrington of Texas, Ken and Jana Rutz, Andrea and Travis Findly, Scott and Amy Rutz, Marissa and Don Haysbert of California; and nine great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lala Charles of Alamogordo and Dorothy Charles of Abilene, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben; brothers, Perl Charles, Ralph Charles, Ward Charles and Ray Charles; and sister, Lucile McClernon. Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held on Monday, June 5, 2000 at 10:30 a.m., Terrace Grove Cemetery, Belen, with the Rev. Jim Anderson of Albuquerque officiating. Eastern Star services will be conducted by Jessamine Chapter No. 45, Order of the Eastern Star, Belen. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Alamogordo, NM 88310. French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE.
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