Doylestown Community Mourns Loss Of Bruce Rutherford

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Doylestown is mourning the loss of a prominent local figure known for his love of antique cars, photography and community volunteerism.

Bruce Rutherford, co-owner of Rutherford's Camera Shop along with his brother, Lee, died suddenly Tuesday, friends and family members said.

The Rutherford family has deep ties to the area. The camera shop was founded in 1938 by their father, Milton Rutherford, who was known for taking photographs of events and places around the area, many of which are still stored at the Doylestown Historical Society. The camera shop has been a permanent fixture at 23 West State Street since 1943, when Rutherford purchased the building. After retiring in the late 1980s, he handed over the shop to his two sons, who have been running the store ever since.

Despite being born with physical ailments, Bruce Rutherford never seemed to let anything get to him down, friends say.

"It was hard for him to walk around a lot of times, but you’d never really know that it affected him mentally," said Thomas Brunt, who became friends with Rutherford in the nineties.

Rutherford was known for organizing the annual Doylestown Car Show, formerly known as the Heart of Bucks Car Show, an event that continues to draw thousands of people to the borough every year. He donated all of the proceeds from the event to local charitable organizations, including the Doylestown Rotary Club, the Boy Scouts of America Bucks County Council and the Doylestown Lions Club.

To his friends, he was a caring, charismatic person, always laughing and smiling or telling a joke.

"He cared a lot about his friends and always wanted to get people together during the summer," said Jason Wood, owner of Immersion Technology on Oakland Avenue, who has been friends with Rutherford for the past two decades.

A memorial rolling car event honoring Bruce Rutherford will be held Sat., Dec. 12, from 1 - 2:30 p.m. The starting location is the Central Bucks West Student Parking Lot at 81 MacFarlane Lane. Participating vehicles will drive through the streets of Doylestown and pass by the camera shop.