Richard Gordon "Dick" Rush

Richard Gordon Rush was born January 17, 1931 in Spokane Washington to Leon and Minnie (Hankel) Rush. He was raised in Spokane where he loved to go fishing in Hangman Creek. He was president of his graduating class at Lewis and Clark High School. He lied about his age in order to get into the Civilian Conservation Corp at 17 where he would spend two years working in the outdoors, amongst other responsibilities he sprayed the vegetation with Agent Orange to keep the fires at bay. February 10, 1950 he got a job working for the Northern Pacific Railroad, until he was drafted into the Army a few months later in October. Richard was sent to Japan during the Korean War where he was assigned as a cook in the Counter Intelligence Core. When he returned to Spokane in 1953 he went back to work for the Railroad. At a 4H Barn Dance he met the love of his life, Barbara Lee Bakken and they were married for 70 years. Throughout this career at the Railroad he bid on and switched jobs many times to get better paying jobs for his family. They moved to Moscow Idaho, Portland Oregon, Seattle and Spokane Washington, St. Paul Minnesota and finally to Fort Worth Texas, where he pulled the plug at 55 and retired. He and Barbara moved to Adobe Wells in 1986 and began his second career of ‘retirement’ golfing, organizing tours and golf trips, and traveling all over the world. He especially loved to cruise, he and Barbara went on over 29 cruises. His favorite place they visited was Alaska. Dick loved to fish, sing in the church choir, travel, garden, feed the birds and GOLF. As a golfer he was often in charge of golf at Adobe Wells and won many tournaments including the Mens Club Championship at age 92. Dick will be remembered for his constant smile, great sense of humor, storytelling and willingness to always help his neighbors. He is proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Delbert, and Donald and sister Darleen. He is survived by his wife Barbara, son Steve (Kris) Rush, Daughters Kathy (Tim) Vizina and Jennifer Hansard. Grand Children; Bryce Ekeren, Jessica Bastyr, Rachel and Melissa Hansard and Great Grandchildren Makenzie and Kohlton Bastyr. Graveside Services will be conducted at 10:00am on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission with Full Military Honors provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8788 of McAllen. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 12:00pm at the Adobe Wells Country Clubhouse, 4901 Daffodill Ave., in McAllen. In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests with gratitude that a donation may be made in Dick's honor to the Adobe Wells Memorial Fund (Dick Rush), 4901 Daffodill Ave., McAllen, TX 78501 (956)-686-8801 or the Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1105 West Fern Ave., in McAllen, TX 78501 (956)-631-6121.

Tributes

Richard Gordon "Dick" Rush

July 23, 2024