Marybeth Rutledge

Marybeth Wagner Rutledge passed away on August 20, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio at the age of 79. Marybeth was born the youngest of six children to Elizabeth (Betty) and Victor (Ray) Wagner on December 14, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. Marybeth attended St. Patrick’s Academy in Chicago. She was a 1967 graduate of Mundelein College (now Loyola University). In 1982 she graduated cum laude from the University of Dayton School of Law. Marybeth’s early career focused on journalism and public relations, with positions at the Champaign-Urbana Courier, the Campfire Girls, and the Tony Hall for Congress campaign; however, she is best remembered for her lengthy career as an attorney in the Dayton, Ohio area. Marybeth’s legal career included positions with the Legal Aid Society of Dayton, the firm of Louis & Froelich, and Winwood Rutledge Co., LLC. Marybeth worked for a number of years as a faculty member providing paralegal training in the Legal Studies Program at Sinclair Community College. Marybeth was a longtime member of the Ohio Bar Association and the Dayton Bar Association; she was proud to serve for many years on the Dayton Bar Association Ethics Committee. Marybeth was civic minded. She served for a number of years with the Wills for Heroes program, providing free wills and estate planning documents to first responders and their spouses or domestic partners. Marybeth also worked as a volunteer at the Kettering Hospital and the Kettering Police Foundation. Marybeth is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jim Rutledge, daughter Patricia Rutledge, son Jim Rutledge, son-in-law Robert Hancock, and daughter-in-law Joan Rutledge. Marybeth was the proud grandmother of Jessica (Webb) Bolstad, Jimmy (Jordan) Rutledge, Robert (Carolina Cortes) Rutledge, and Wesley Rutledge, and the proud great-grandmother of Evie, Ruby, and Antonio. Marybeth also is survived by sisters Rita Drayson Thibodeaux and Loretto (John) Clarkson, and sister-in-law Ann (Briggs) Dunn. A great joy in Marybeth’s life were her four nephews, 25 nieces, and numerous great nephews and nieces, for whom she served as an important kin-keeper. Marybeth also is survived by many valued friends and colleagues.Marybeth was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jeannine Rogers, sister Carol Sullivan, brother Ray Wagner, niece Mary Kay Waldoch, nephew Joe Sullivan, Jr. and infant nephew Tommy Drayson. Marybeth was saddened, and increasingly so over the past several years, by the loss of many dear friends and colleagues.Marybeth was a lifelong avid fan of the Chicago Cubs.The family appreciates the kind assistance of Westbrock Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 29 at Westbrock Funeral Home, 5980 Bigger Road, Kettering, Ohio, 45440. At Marybeth’s request, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to two of Marybeth’s favorite charities: Oak Tree Corners, whose mission is providing grief support for children, teens, and families (www.oaktreecorner.org) and The Foodbank, Inc, which provides food to people in need of assistance (thefoodbankdayton.org).