Belva Nell Bush, age 96, of O'Fallon, Illinois, passed away Sunday morning, May 18, 2008 at Cedar Ridge Healthcare Center, Lebanon, Ill.

She was born February 3, 1912 in Farmington, West Virginia to Martin H. and Dagmar, nee Groce, Rummager. She married William J. Bush on November 10, 1939 in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. In 1971, upon his retirement, they settled in Venice, Florida. She lived there until 2000, when she moved to O'Fallon, Illinois to be near her son and his family. She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William J. Bush, who passed away in 1996, her son Col. William J. Bush, II, USAF (retired), who passed away June 10, 2007, her sister Lois Flege and brother Dallas Rummager.

Mrs. Bush is survived by her daughter-in-law, Joan Bush of O'Fallon, Ill., her granddaughters Alison Delgado and her husband Peter of Glen Ridge, NJ, Katherine Ruberton and her husband Robert of London, England; and three great grandchildren, Gabrielle and Alec Delgado and William Ruberton. She will also be missed by her friends and neighbors at the O'Fallon Apartments.

Memorial Donations in honor of Mrs. Belva Nell Bush may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 305 South Illinois, Belleville, Ill, 62222 or Mayo Clinic, Dept. of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

Visitation: There will be no public visitation.

Funeral: Funeral Services will be private. At her request, her cremated remains will be scattered by air over Casperson Beach, near Venice, Florida, where she held many fond memories of time spent there with her husband.