Kern County Obituaries

Irene Goforth Rutan

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

Services set for Irene Rutan, mother of pilots
Sons known around the world.
WEEKENDER STAFF REPORT
MO JAVE — A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 7, for Irene Goforth Rutan, 84, who 
passed away September 27 at her Palmdale home.
A public service will be held at 11 a.m. at Scaled Composites, the firm her son Burt built into an 
internationally-recognized aerospace firm.
Mrs. Rutan was born in San Jon, New Mexico, on September 6, 1916.
She and her husband of 63 years, George, who survives her, spent much of their life in the San 
Joaquin Valley, moving to the Antelope Valley in 1985.
Son Dick Rutan, whose aerial adventures in airplanes designed by his brother Burt have taken him 
around the world twice, said his mother was "very supportive" of her children as they grew up and later 
in life.
Dick said that when he turned 16, his mother drove him out to the airport for his first solo flight, 
which won him his pilot's license, and then to the DMV for his driver's license.
"I drove home," Rutan recalled.
Mrs. Rutan enjoyed accompanying her sons to the annual Experimental Aircraft 
Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She counted ail the LongEzis and other airplanes Burt 
designed," Dick Rutan said.
"She always had the 'official' count!
Failing health prevented her from traveling to Oshkosh this year, he added.
The Rutans raised their talented family in Dinuba, a small farming town near Fresno, where George 
Rutan was a dentist.
Mrs. Rutan is survived by her husband, sons Burt and Dick Rutan, daughter Nell Rutan, brother 
Howard Goforth, grandchildren Dawn Davis, Kye Park, Holly Hogan, Jill Hoffman, Jeff Rutan, 
and Jetta Zellner; six great grand-children, and nieces and nephews.
Famous sons
Mrs. Rutan was devoted to her children, and was a familiar figure at Scaled and at the launching 
and landing of son Dick's many record-setting adventures and roll-outs of Burt's latest designs.
Burt Rutan's innovative designs have made him known and respected around the world. Dick 
Rutan has flown around the world twice, once with Jeana Yeager to become the first to 
circumnavigate the world non-stop and un-refueled in the Voyager, a unique aircraft now on 
display at the National Air and Space Museum in the nation's capitol.
His second globe-circling journey was with Scaled executive Mike Melville in a pair of Long-
Ezis.

Moiave Desert News; Thursday October 05, 2000

Irene Rutan, mother of famed aviation brothers, dies
LANCASTER — Irene "Mom" Rutan died on September 26 in her home 
surrounded by family members.
She was the mother of famed aviation brothers, Dick and Burt Rutan. who 
have been making aviation history throughout their adult lives.
An Antelope Valley resident since 1985, Irene Rutan and her husband, 
George, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on June 1.
Irene Goforth Rutan was born in San Jon, New Mexico on September 6, 1916.
"Mom" Rutan was an enduring influence since her sons' early model airplane days 
and she was their num-ber one cheerleader in all of their celebrated adventures. She 
delighted in being a stay-at-home mom, giving support to her husband, her children, 
and her grandchildren.
Mom Rutan is survived by her husband, George Albert Rutan, son Dick and his 
wife, Kris; son Burt and his wife, Tonya; daughter Nell, brother Howard Goforth, 
grandchildren Holly, Jill, Jeff, Dawn, Jetta, Kye, Shannon and Kelly; and great 
grandchildren Whitney, Lindy, Eli, Noelie, Haley, Cole, Jordan and Natasha, along 
with numerous nieces and nephews.
She was loved by her family, her many friends and the aviation community.
A memorial is planned for Mom Rulan on Saturday, October 7. For further 
information; please e-mail kelly@hallstar.net or telephone 661 -943-6040.
Irene Rutan
 
NOTE: Photo At: http://www.calarchives4u.com/photos/kern/