Margaret Louise Rutherford, of Fresno, CA, passed away at age 90 on Saturday October 15, 2016, at Elim Place, in Sanger, CA. She was born on April 11, 1926 in Porum, OK, daughter of Allison "Al" and Cora Martin. She attended several elementary schools, as her family relocated a number of times, eventually settling in Fresno. There she attended Theodore Roosevelt High School and made many life-long friends. In Fresno she also met her brother's Navy buddy and the love of her life, William Leland Rutherford, to whom she was married in 1950.The family settled in Bakersfield, CA, where they raised their two daughters, Deborah and Patricia. Margaret was a Special Education teacher's aide with the Bakersfield City School District, and again developed life-long friendships. As empty-nesters, Margaret and Lee moved to Camarillo, CA, where she became a mortgage broker in a firm with her father and younger brother.After retiring, Margaret chose to return to Fresno, where she had spent some of the happiest days of her life. She was counseled by friends that "you can't go back" and that "things will have changed"; on the contrary, she was welcomed back with open arms by family and old friends. She spent many happy days working in her rose garden, playing bridge, and serving on the Roosevelt Class of 1944 Reunion Committee.Margaret is survived by her daughters, Deborah Rutherford and Patricia Chase; son-in-law James Chase; cousin Donna Martin; nephews Patrick Martin, Kevin O'Day, Timothy Martin, Robert Rutherford and Stephen Rutherford; nieces Michelle Eacret and Noelle Rutherford; and her "adopted" daughter" Diane Alter. She was predeceased by her husband Lee, her parents Al and Cora, and her brothers Wayne and Robert. The family wishes to express its gratitude to Elim Place and Optimal Hospice for making her comfortable in her last days.Grave side services will be held at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park at 5400 Valentine Road in Ventura, California, on Saturday November 26th, 20016 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to a charity serving special needs children.