Gretel Hoeltig Rutledge, age 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 25, 2024, at her home in Pensacola, Florida. She was born on January 4th, 1937, in Hamburg, Germany and was the daughter of the late Elfriede Margareta Haars and Herbert Franz Ludwig. She married
Gene Noble Rutledge on August 18, 1957 and raised five children, Myra Lee Palmer, Iris Kay Call, Janet Evelyn Hoffman, Kenneth Allen Rutledge, and Sandra Gaye Fast.

Her passions included studying her Sunday School lessons for children in her early years and later the senior ladies' class, caring for her beautiful flower gardens and reading, especially those stories which included cats. One of her favorite authors was Lilian Jackson Braun. Her pastimes included working puzzles, watching British mystery shows and cuddling with her pets.

She is survived by four of her children along with her nine grandchildren, Autumn Hicks Martin, Nathan Hicks, David Rutledge, Jessica Palmer, Jennifer King, Richard Rutledge, Lauren Griffin, Savannah Purdy and Katie Rutledge, as well as four great grandchildren with another one on the way.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at Hunter Funeral Home with her son, Kenneth Allen Rutledge officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. till service time on Saturday. Interment will be at Hearn Hill Cemetery.