IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William J.
Bush
March 6, 1941 – June 10, 2007
Obituary
Colonel William J. Bush, II, USAF (retired), age 66, of O'Fallon, Illinois, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2007 in Rochester, Minn. He was born March 6, 1941 in Parkersburg, West Virginia to William J. and Belva (nee Rummager) Bush.
Col Bush attended Tulane University prior to entering the United States Air Force through the Aviation Cadet program in 1963. He served in various "slick" C-130 units before transferring to the C-130 Combat Talon in 1968. He left active duty in 1973 to become an Air Reserve Technician and returned to active duty as Headquarters Air Force Reserve Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, IL in 1980. Colonel Bush retired from active duty in 1989 but remained at Scott AFB as a civil servant working in Air Mobility Command and the Tanker Airlift Control Center until his retirement in 2006 culminating his 43-year career with the Department of the Air Force.
Colonel Bush was a Master Navigator with more that 7500 flying hours, including 331 hours of combat flying in the Vietnam War. With many other awards and decorations, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Colonel Bush was a member of many local and national military associations, O'Fallon VFW Post 805; and was Past Commander of American Legion Fischer-Sollis Post 137. He was a parishioner of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon.
In lieu of flowers and in appreciation to Mayo Clinic for their care and compassion, and in hopes of finding a cure for liver cancer, Memorial Donations are suggested to Mayo Clinic, c/o Betsy Koehnen, Dept. of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
He is survived by his wife Joan (nee Bartkus) Bush of O'Fallon; mother Belva Nell (nee Rummager) Bush, of O'Fallon; daughters Alison (Peter) Delgado and their children, Gabrielle and Alec of Glen Ridge, New Jersey; and Katherine (Rob) Ruberton of London, England.
Col Bush was preceded in death by his father.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, June 17, 2007 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon.
Funeral Service: Procession will depart Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 10:15 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2007 for a 10:30 Mass of Christian Burial at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, with Msgr. William Hitpas officiating.
Burial August 20, 2007 in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Col Bush attended Tulane University prior to entering the United States Air Force through the Aviation Cadet program in 1963. He served in various "slick" C-130 units before transferring to the C-130 Combat Talon in 1968. He left active duty in 1973 to become an Air Reserve Technician and returned to active duty as Headquarters Air Force Reserve Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, IL in 1980. Colonel Bush retired from active duty in 1989 but remained at Scott AFB as a civil servant working in Air Mobility Command and the Tanker Airlift Control Center until his retirement in 2006 culminating his 43-year career with the Department of the Air Force.
Colonel Bush was a Master Navigator with more that 7500 flying hours, including 331 hours of combat flying in the Vietnam War. With many other awards and decorations, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Colonel Bush was a member of many local and national military associations, O'Fallon VFW Post 805; and was Past Commander of American Legion Fischer-Sollis Post 137. He was a parishioner of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon.
In lieu of flowers and in appreciation to Mayo Clinic for their care and compassion, and in hopes of finding a cure for liver cancer, Memorial Donations are suggested to Mayo Clinic, c/o Betsy Koehnen, Dept. of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
He is survived by his wife Joan (nee Bartkus) Bush of O'Fallon; mother Belva Nell (nee Rummager) Bush, of O'Fallon; daughters Alison (Peter) Delgado and their children, Gabrielle and Alec of Glen Ridge, New Jersey; and Katherine (Rob) Ruberton of London, England.
Col Bush was preceded in death by his father.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, June 17, 2007 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon.
Funeral Service: Procession will depart Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 10:15 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2007 for a 10:30 Mass of Christian Burial at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, with Msgr. William Hitpas officiating.
Burial August 20, 2007 in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
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