Eric Allen Rutherford, 62, passed away on March 29, 2026. Eric was born in Huntington West Virginia to parents Clifford Rutherford and Delores White. He proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps. An electrician by trade, he enjoyed fishing and swimming in his free time. Preceded in death by most of his family; he leaves to cherish his memory, devoted friend and brother, Todd Whithersby, sister Joanne Patrick, as well as brother Linwood Jones and family. Eric loved to help people, enjoyed good fellowship, good conversation, living life the right way and studying the bible. As a believer in Jesus Christ he’d spend hours going over scripture encouraging himself and those around him, as his kind nature ensured that everyone he met was treated as a friend. He was very loyal, consistent in friendship, able to be counted on, and faithful to those close to him. Having left West Virginia largely because of the too familiar prejudice he saw engrained in his daily life and environment against kids he came up with that began to eat at him, at 17 he joined the Marine Corps and traveled, afterwards becoming a commercial fishing boat captain, commanding his team as they hunted shrimp and whale. During this whole exciting time of self-discovery he brawled, drank, and drugged … Until in his travels he found himself in Kissimmee, Florida around believers in a house church having bible study and a prayer service, when, under proper direction, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and, having received the Holy Spirit by faith as well, had an Acts chapter 2 experience of praying in tongues as the spirit gave him utterance, witnessed by four elders who were there, one man of God testifying “brother, you just prayed for an hour in the most beautiful language I’ve ever heard!”. This life changing experience was the culmination of his grandmother’s investment into him, taking him to church with her at a young age. Brother Eric Allen Rutherford lived on proudly as a Christian and still made mistakes along the way, suffered many setbacks, serving time in jail, staying in homeless shelters, being misunderstood by those closest to him, surviving and thriving by the grace of God. His greatest boast would be that the Lord came into his life to make certain his soul was saved. His greatest desire was to be drink, drug and sexual sin free before leaving to be with his savior … this WAS achieved. Brother Eric was an amazing man who served his time this side of heaven; his LIFE was a Hallelujah. He was always genuine, always growing and always learning, wanting only to make his Lord and heavenly Father proud. HE would want everyone to know that Jesus Christ is God, and that He gave His life because He loved His creation (John 3:16). If this testimony of his life and journey would encourage anyone to have faith and believe that Jesus loves them, then he would consider this . . . PERFECTION .