David Martin Rutt

David Martin Rutt, age 90, passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Savior, September 1, 2017 in Sebring, Florida.  He was born October 5, 1926 in Strasburg, PA, the second of two children to Elmer and Anna Rutt.  David grew up in a Mennonite farming community – “plain people” who wore “plain clothing”.  They were regular church attenders, but it was just religion – go every Sunday, get baptized at 12, do the right things.  In his early 20s, David wanted to know that he had something deeper than “just religion”, so he committed himself to God.  Later, while attending a Scofield class with his pastor, he felt a leading into missions.  David began to attend Lancaster Bible College on a part-time basis, as his farming responsibilities allowed, and later continued his studies at the Moody Bible Institute, studying to be a missionary pilot.  Along the way, David had met Lyda Durham through mutual friends in Pennsylvania, fell in love and got married.  God blessed their union with three lovely daughters, Cynthia, Sharon and Mary Anna.  Upon completion of studies at MBI, Dave and Lyda sought God’s will for missionary service.  After one or two doors were closed before them, an opportunity arose with SIMAIR serving in Nigeria which they began in 1959.  David served as a pilot for 15 years, logging more than 8,000 hours.  In 1974, due to health concerns, David switched from aviation to Bible teaching in the public schools in Nigeria.  In 1984, Lyda came down with cancer and passed away.  Dave was widowed for 13 years before marrying a second time to Carol Edgar, a colleague from Nigeria.  They served one term together at the Bible School in Gure, Nigeria, before retiring to Tucson, Arizona.  In 2005, they relocated to Sebring, FL.  A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 8, 2017 at 10 AM in the SIM Chapel, 900 Andes Drive, Sebring, FL.  Memorial gifts may be given to SIM USA, 4114 Nigeria St., Sebring, FL  33875 on behalf of the Sebring Retirement Village.

Services entrusted to:

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home

4001 Sebring Parkway

Sebring, FL 33870

Online condolences may be left at:

www.stephensonnelsonfh.com