Dr. Harley Rutledge

Dr. Harley D. Rutledge, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 5, 2006, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Omaha, Neb., son of Earl and Irene Hoagland Rutledge. He and Ruth Lootens were married June 26, 1954, in Taos, Mo.

He served in the Army March 16, 1944, to May 3, 1946.

Dr. Rutledge received an A.B. from Tarkio College, Tarkio, Mo., in 1950, M.S. from University of Missouri-Columbia in 1956, and a Ph.D. from University of Missouri-Columbia in 1966.

He taught at Central College in Fayette, Mo., from 1957 to 1960. He was a professor of physics at Southeast Missouri State University from 1963 to 1992, and served as department chairman from 1964 to 1982.

Dr. Rutledge was a member of American Association of Physics Teachers, president of Missouri Section in 1967, Missouri Academy of Science president from 1971 to 1972, and president of Physics Section from 1967 to 1968, Science Teachers of Missouri, Sponsor of Southeast Missouri Science Teachers Association from 1968 to 1970, and member of Sigma Pi Sigma physics fraternity.

Dr. Rutledge summarized his research in UFO Field Studies in the book "Project Identification: The First Scientific Field Study of UFO Phenomena."

He is survived by his wife of Cape Girardeau; a son, Mark Rutledge and wife Juliette of McKinney, Texas; four daughters, Susan Kemp of Cape Girardeau, Teresa Rutledge and husband Grant Wilson of Great Falls, Va., Jane Hampson and husband James of Herndon, Va., Sarah Holland and husband Sam of Niwot, Colo.; a brother, Steven Rutledge of Aurora, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Mark and Matthew Wilson of Great Falls, Truman, Raleigh and Clara Hampson of Herndon, Lance and Seth Holland of Niwot.

He was preceded by his parents.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home today from 4 to 8 p.m.

The funeral will be at the funeral home Thursday at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Derek Swanson officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with graveside rites provided by Missouri Military Funeral Honors Team.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 9374 Olive Street Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63132-3214.