It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of Leslie Marable Rutledge Jr., of Smithfield, on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at the age of 77. Les passed away peacefully at his home with his wife of more than 52 years, Peggy Lynn Bondurant Rutledge, by his side.

Les will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Peggy, of Smithfield; daughter, Carey Alison Rutledge, of Charlotte, North Carolina; son, Austin Whitt Rutledge and beloved daughter-in-law, Nicole Freudig Rutledge, of Wake Forest, North Carolina; grandsons, Wyatt James Rutledge and Paxton Wood Rutledge, of Wake Forest, North Carolina; brothers, David Whitt Rutledge (Dorothy), of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Steven Emmett Rutledge (Katrinka), of Mayodan, North Carolina; brother-in-law, Walton Gibson Bondurant Jr. (Nancy), of Smithfield; nephews and nieces, Carey Bondurant Hayslett (Rus), of Smithfield, Ami Bondurant Balderson (Bob), of Mechanicsville, Walton Gibson Bondurant III (Anna), of Smithfield, James Marable Rutledge (Ashley), of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Adam Correll Rutledge (Lea), of Wenham, Massachusetts, Martha Elizabeth Rutledge, of Durham, North Carolina, Matthew David Rutledge (Angelica), of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Stephen Tyree Emmett Rutledge (Julie), of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Courtney Prichard (Lucas), of Kernersville, North Carolina; and grandnieces and grandnephews in the Rutledge and Bondurant families. Les was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Marable Rutledge and Frances Cleo Whitt Rutledge, both originally of Chase City.

Les was born in 1944 in Newport News and was a graduate of Warwick High School. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington and served in the Marine Corps Reserves as he began his career in banking with the Bank of Hampton Roads. In 1981, Les and Peggy moved to Midlothian, where Les worked at Central Fidelity Bank in Richmond. Les then joined Planters Bank (later Centura Bank) in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 1988. He and Peggy moved back to the Hampton Roads area in 1998, settling in Smithfield.

Les always enjoyed reading, music, physical fitness and watching sports. He also had a love for history and architecture. His biggest passion was certainly his family, and he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Les was always a great sounding board for his children as they grew in their own careers and provided unconditional support for their individual endeavors. Some of his fondest memories were of family gatherings with his cousins at Green Cove Farm in Chase City, and with his family at his in-laws’ beach house at Cape Story by the Sea in Virginia Beach.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to Tonya Everette and Jean Artis for their extraordinary care and compassion. We would also like to thank Sabrina Chappell for her support during the first year of his care.
The family will hold a reception to celebrate Les’ life between 1 and 4 p.m., March 19, 2022, at Windsor Castle Park Manor House, 301 Jericho Road, Smithfield.

Friends are encouraged to visit littlesfuneralhome.com to share memories and words of condolences with the family. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Dementia Society of America.