Obituary of Raymond Bush

Raymond G. Bush, Sr., age 91 of Trumansburg, NY, passed away Friday, February 8, 2013, at his home. He was born June 21, 1921, to the late Glen and Pearl Chesley Bush at Valois, NY. He attended the Perry City one-room schoolhouse and Trumansburg schools. He served in the US Army 1939-41 as a non-commissioned officer and served in the US Navy Reserve 1944-45 as a pharmacist mate. Ray was employed by the Panama Canal-Canal Zone Government as an environmental supervisor and was promoted to Chief Supervisory Technician of the Atlantic Area. He was awarded 3 commendations. Upon his retirement in 1975, after 32 years of dedicated service, he received the Panama Canal Appreciation Award. Ray served as Post Commander of the American Legion for two years and was elected Department Commander of the Panama Canal Zone-Aruba, Costa Rica and Guatemala. He was elected to two terms as the American Legion National Executive Committeeman from the Panama Canal Zone to National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. He was awarded the Americanism Medal for researching, authoring and presenting a confidential report on The Republic of Panama Canal Zone situation to the American Legion Foreign Relations Commission in Washington, DC, following rioting in the canal zone in 1959. After retirement, Ray and his family settled in Tacoma, WA. Ray was a life member of the Tacoma Teachers Home Association. He was elected president of the Commencement Terrace Residents Club in 2003 and 2005 and was also elected to the club's board of trustees in 2005. He was a life member of American Legion Post 187, Lakewood, WA. Ray relocated to Trumansburg, NY in 2010 and was a proud member of the Reynoldsville United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Ruth E. (Dean) Bush, son Raymond G. Bush, Jr. of Doral, FL, daughters, Helen B. Burgess of Wichita Falls, TX, and Sharon B. (William) Pybas of NW Gig Harbor, WA, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, four stepdaughters, Carol Waterman, Ginger Sears, Luanne (Joseph) Collins and Barbara Bennett, six step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, Velma Teeter, C. Jane Simmons, Nancy (Fay) Combs, and several nieces and nephews. Ray was predeceased by his wife of 22 years, the former Mary C. Kimbrough, brother and sister-in-law, William and (Dora) Bush and a sister, Helen Newton. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 16, 2013, at 4 pm at the Reynoldsville United Methodist Church with Pastor Michael Kelly officiating. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Reynoldsville United Methodist Church, c/o Kristina Burke, Treasurer, 5098 State Route 227, Burdett, NY 14818.