Donavon (Don) Roby Rutledge, 79, of Dallas, Oregon, died Saturday September 30, 2017. Born on November 14, 1937 in Wichita, Kansas, he was the firstborn son of Chloe Georgia Roby and Wilfred Eugene Rutledge. Don graduated from Manhattan Bible College in Manhattan Kansas and became the Minister for Winchester Christian Church in Danville, Indiana before going on to obtain his Masters of Social Work from Indiana University in 1964.

On July 13, 1957, Don married Carol Marie Brunner of Hope, Kansas and they had four children; Lance, Daniel, Doni-Marie, and Joel.

Don was the Executive Director of The Kansas Children Service League and then the Child Protective Specialist for the State of Kansas. In that position, he was the primary author of legislation that protected women and children. Don also taught Social Work at Wichita State University (WSU). While at WSU he was instrumental in developing the programming that solidified the social work department’s first accreditation. He was a community leader and helped found the Midtown Citizens Association in Wichita.

After retirement from social work, he returned to his long-time passion of making art. Don moved to Oregon and reunited with his high school girlfriend La Verne and they married on October 22, 2010. La Verne brought 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren to the marriage. Don is survived by his wife, La Verne Rutledge, his sister, Barbara Kingery and her husband, Oris, his brother, Dennis Rutledge, his four children and their partners, Lance and M'Liz Crawford, Daniel and Melody, Doni-Marie, and Joel and Tracy, and his ten grandchildren; Kasia, Dru, Tahnoqua, Taiomah, Kineu, Giizhig, Devon, Joshua, Quailan, and Missy. The family requests that in-lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s name to p:ear, a not-for-profit that provides stability to homeless youth through art, in Portland, OR.

Please join Donavon's local family and friends for a meal in celebration of his life at Murphy's Grill (288 E Ellendale Ave, Dallas, OR 97338) where a few pieces of his artwork will be on Saturday. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center is caring for the family.