Mr. Rush’s obituary appeared in Oct. 18, 2006 Westminster Eagle… (The first obit is for Peggy Martin; Mr. Rush is the third obit.)
John Jay Rush Sr., 81, of Westminster died Oct. 10, 2006, at the Continuum Care Nursing Home in Sykesville.
Born Jan. 27, 1925, in Trenton, N.J., he was the son of the late Milton and Clara Bainbridge Rush. He was the husband of Bebe Rush, his wife of 53 years, whom he married Dec. 28, 1952.
He was a graduate of Hamilton High School and a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in business administration. He was transferred to Westminster in 1957 while working with Southern States Cooperative, and later took a position with General Cooper and Brass Co. of Philadelphia as a salesman until his retirement in 1992 after 30 years of service. He also was a Realtor with Century 21 Charles J. Plunkert Inc. for several years.
He became active in the Boy Scouts of America when he joined a troop in Trenton, N.J., in 1937 at the age of 12. His time in that troop, led by "Pops" Skeleton, developed an interest in scouting that lasted 66 years. While a scout in this troop, he went to Philmont Scout Ranch for the first time, and traveled there several times during his long career in scouting. After service in the Army Air Corps during World War II and starting his family, he returned to Scouting as Cub Master of Cub Pack 381 in Westminster in 1963. He then stepped in as "temporary" Scoutmaster of Scout Troop 381 in 1961, retiring 34 years later as Scoutmaster Emeritus in 2003, after seeing more than 100 boys attain the coveted award of Eagle Scout under his leadership. He received numerous scouting awards, including the Silver Beaver, the God and Country Award, the Distinguished Scoutmaster Award, the Frontier District Award of Merit, Scout of the Year, and was named a James E. West Fellow.
He was member of the American Legion Post 31, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 467, and a charter member of the First United Presbyterian Church. He was the recipient of the Rotary Club Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1990. He was an avid train collector.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are sons and daughters-in-law Randy L. and Sherry Rush of Cumberland, John J. Jr. and Cindy Rush of Herndon, Va.; grandchildren Peter, Alan, Jessica, Beth, Courtney and Tracey; brother Robert Rush of Knoxville, Tenn.; nephew and spouse Barry and Sally Rush of Seaside Park, N.J.; and mother-in-law Evelyn Gobble of Abingdon, Va.
He was predeceased by brother and sister-in-law Horace and Gloria Rush.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the First Presbyterian Church, 65 Washington Road, Westminster, with the Rev. Frederick Eckhardt officiating.
There will be no public viewing.
Memorial contributions may be made to the John J. Rush Sr. Scout Memorial Fund for Deserving Scouts, P.O. Box 381, Westminster, MD 21158.
Arrangements are by Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster.
