She was born on Sept. 18, 1926 to the late George and Alice Fanney Tucker of Sneedville, Tenn.
She is also she is preceded in death by her husband James W. Rutledge; siblings, Mary Tucker, Inamae Tucker, Georgia Lee Tucker, Pauline Johnson, Hugh Kyle Tucker, L.C. Tucker, Mack Ray Tucker, and Charles Tucker.
Irene leaves to mourn her passing, one daughter, Thelma Watterson; and special friend Rodney Bradley of Kingsport; one granddaughter, Cassandra (Kenneth) Biggles of Atlanta, Ga.; two great-grandchildren, Ashley Biggles and Jarell Biggles of Atlanta, Ga.; one great-great-granddaughter, London Carrasquillo of Atlanta, Ga.; sisters, Cecilia (James) Henderson of Kingsport, Edna (Hezekiah) Brown of Church Hill, Tenn., Lena (Terry) Griffith of Sneedville, Tenn., Nina Tucker of Washington, D.C.; brothers, William (Mildred) Tucker of Maryland, Glenn (Brenda) Tucker of South Carolina, Bud Tucker of Morristown; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Oak Hill Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the J. Wayne Hamilton Memorial Chapel of Oak Hill Funeral Home with Reverend Anthony Daniels officiating.
Burial will follow in Church Hill Memorial Gardens in Church Hill, Tenn.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made the Central Baptist Church Building Fund at 301 Carver Street, Kingsport, Tenn. 37660.
The staff of Oak Hill is honored to serve the family of Stella Irene Rutledge.
An online guest registry may be signed at http://www.oakhillmemorialpark.com
