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Celebrating the life of William Bruce Rutherford, USN, Ret.
Agreed to by the Senate, January 22, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 26, 2026
WHEREAS, William Bruce Rutherford, USN, Ret., an honorable veteran, accomplished farmer, and beloved member of the Nelson County community, died on July 21, 2025; and
WHEREAS, a native of Cape May, New Jersey, Bruce Rutherford joined the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 and three years later transitioned to the United States Navy, with which he would serve an additional 17 years; and
WHEREAS, over his naval career, Bruce Rutherford served on five different submarines, including the USS
Bergall
, USS
Spikefish
, USS
John Marshall
, USS
Henry L. Stimson
, and USS
Seawolf
, one of the Navy's first nuclear submarines; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Rutherford demonstrated a gift for animal husbandry during his years in the service, caring for the Marine Corps' bulldog mascot while stationed at Quantico and earning the distinction of being the first person to hatch a chicken aboard a U.S. Naval submarine; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Rutherford and his family acquired land in Nelson County in 1962 and developed the property into the “The Wonder If Farm,” which was a fully functioning pig farm by the late 1970s; and
WHEREAS, after selling the farm and retiring, Bruce Rutherford remained active by building houses, running a family barbecue stand, and growing exceptional lima beans and tomatoes in his garden, which he gifted generously to friends and neighbors; and
WHEREAS, whether by wintering on Lake Okeechobee in Florida, embarking on regular fishing outings, or telling stories, Bruce Rutherford cherished spending quality time with family and loved ones; and
WHEREAS, guided throughout his life by his faith and his commitment to helping others, Bruce Rutherford enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at Calvary Baptist Church in Nelson County and was an engaged member of the local post of the American Legion; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Rutherford will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Dorothy; his children, Rob, Lorna, Tim, and Troy, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of William Bruce Rutherford, USN, Ret., a revered member of the Nelson County community whose unwavering devotion to his family and country inspired all who knew him; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of William Bruce Rutherford, USN, Ret., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.