Obituaries

Sheila Fahy Rutledge, age 55, of Crouse was called home to heaven on Saturday, January 11, 2014 after a strong and courageous battle against unrelenting Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Funeral services for Sheila will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Crouse United Methodist Church.  Burial will follow in Hollybrook Cemetery in Lincolnton. The family will receive friends on Monday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Warlick Funeral Home. 

Sheila touched many lives over her 32 years of teaching special needs children in both South Carolina and North Carolina, retiring from Lincoln County Schools in July of 2012.  She was recognized by the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Fraternal Order of Police as Teacher of the Year in 2005.  She earned her National Board Certification in 2006 and was recognized by the State of North Carolina as Lincoln County’s Exceptional Children’s Teacher of Excellence in 2006.  Sheila always went above and beyond the job description and truly made a difference in the lives of her students.

Sheila was the daughter of the late Andrew and Fahy Rutledge.  She was the mother of Wes Winburn and the Mamaw of Wyatt Winburn.  She is also survived by her brothers, John Rutledge of Crouse, Edgar Rutledge and wife, Helen of Vale, Sam Rutledge and wife, Monica of Gainesville, Florida and her sister Ann Upton and husband, Donald of Lincolnton.  She also had many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends who loved her dearly.  Sheila left behind a multitude of family and friends who loved her and will always miss her.

The family would like to thank Love Memorial Elementary School, The Outreach Class at Crouse United Methodist Church, Carolina Trust Bank, donors to the Special Fund for Sheila, the Hillbilly Beardsmen of Hickory, NC, Dr. John Mahoney and his nurse Lisa, and all of the compassionate staff at Levine Cancer Institute, CMC-Lincoln and Catawba Regional Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to The Outreach Class at Crouse United Methodist Church or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to the Grandfather Home for Children, Banner Elk, NC.