Rutty Adams, 90

Eldred Rutledge [Rutty] Adams, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, May 19th, 2022.
Rutty was born on March 22nd, 1932 in East Aurora, NY to Eldred Rutledge and Helen [Walker] Adams. He had two older sisters, Virginia and June.
Rutty graduated from East Aurora High School in 1950. He was an accomplished athlete playing football, basketball, volleyball and baseball. He joined the United States Marine Corp [USMC] and proudly served for three years earning the rank of Sergeant on the USMC Silent Drill Platoon. He graduated from Cortland State University with a degree in education then went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy.
On August 6th, 1956, Rutty married the love of his life, Margaret Elizabeth Fee, in Buffalo, NY. They were married for 62 years until her passing in 2018. They had six kids, Tom, Sam, Mark, Gwen, Pete and Megan. Rutty worked as a Physical Therapist at the Veterans Hospital in Batavia, NY and Ransomville Hospital in Ransomville, NY. He then became the Head Athletic Trainer/Student Medical Center Physical Therapist at Ball State University. In 1973 the family moved to Sturgis where Rutty became the Physical Therapist at Sturgis Hospital. He lived in the same family home for almost 50 years. Upon retirement from Sturgis Hospital, he worked as a private contractor at several nursing homes in the Sturgis area. He also provided home health treatment to many people in the area. His family often heard from his former patients regarding the wonderful treatment and care Rutty provided them.
Rutty was a great dad and he and Margie took the kids camping in the Adirondack Mountains every summer where they took over night canoe trips, day hikes and visited historical sites. Rutty had a lifelong love for the outdoors and at age 70 went backpacking for a week in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming with his four sons.
Rutty and Margie enjoyed many years of retirement together visiting Europe and camping and traveling throughout the United States. Margie spent years in a nursing home and Rutty visited her everyday, twice a day, to feed her lunch and supper and to hold her hand. His enduring love and devotion to Margie was like a storied romance.
Rutty was a member of the St. Joseph County Conservation Club serving as Secretary and the Friends of the St. Joseph River. He also volunteered at The Youth For Christ Center during the construction of the building on Chicago Rd. Rutty and Margie were members of the Sturgis First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his children, Tom [Jo], Lander, WY, Sam, Kalamazoo, Mark [Laura}, Howe, IN, Gwen Donmyer [Brad], Sturgis, Pete [Crystal], Constantine and Megan Adams-Stratton[Joe], Brooksville, ME. 20 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Margaret, sisters, Virginia Burnett and June Allen and a grandson, Mike Adams.
In accordance with his wishes cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25th at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 South Nottawa in Sturgis, where at 7:00 p.m. a bagpipe performance by piper Alex Rodriguez and full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 and the U.S. Marine Corp Honor Guard. Interment will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis at a later date.
Memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Margaret Adams Education Scholarship c/o: Sturgis Community Foundation, 310 N. Franks St., Sturgis, MI 49091.
The family would like to give special thanks to Arlene Curnow who was a loving and dedicated care giver to Rutty and Margie until the end. Thank you to care givers Jo Jo Handyside, Dana Mayer, Anne Barnes, Patty Dunlap, Darlene and John Tate and Michelle Janes.
We encourage relatives and friends to share memories and condolences at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.