E. Neil Rush, 86, a resident of Phoebe Berks, in Wernersville, Pa., died of natural causes on Aug. 14, 2018.
Born on Nov. 16, 1931, in Earnshaw, he was the son of the late W.E. and Marion Robinson Rush.
Neil graduated from Hundred High School, in Hundred, in May 1949. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and bravely served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Albany until March 1953, which was in the Korean War theater and on which he circumnavigated the globe twice.
Following his honorable discharge, Neil briefly worked at Weirton Steel Corp. until September 1953, when he enrolled in West Virginia University where he studied civil engineering.
He married Aleda B. Graham, of Reedsville, on Sept. 5, 1954. She passed
on July 31, 2014, just
weeks before their 60 wedding anniversary.
Surviving are three sons, Mark Rush, of Mount Penn, Pa., Jeffrey Rush, husband of Virginia, of Wyomissing, Pa., and Gregory Rush, husband of Margaret, of Jeffersonville, Ind.; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Rush and Neil Rush, both of Wyomissing; his brother, Zane Rush, of Wilmington, N.C., and his sister, Julia Rush, of Hundred.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Ernest Rush and Joan Boord.
In addition to his family, Neil was proud of his affiliation with the Masons. In 1978, Neil was raised to Master Mason in Canton, Pa., Lodge 415 F&AN. He later served as Past Master of the same. At the time of his death, he was a member of Joseph Summers Lodge 173, and a 32nd Mason of the Williamsport Consistory.
Neil retired from Voplex Corp. of Rochester, N.Y. in 1987, where he was director of manufacturing. Prior to that, he was plant engineer for Sterling Industries of Morgantown, and VP and general manager of Canford Manufacturing Corp., of Canton.
Despite his serious lung problems which caused him to retire early, Neil steadfastly maintained a fierce desire to live each day to its fullest and to make a positive impact on those around him. He remained an active community servant everywhere he lived. He served on the Board of the First National Bank of Canton and the Canton Water Authority. He later served on the Board of Abbey Industries, a large sheltered workshop in Canandaigua, N.Y.
A believer that everyone has something to give back, regardless of age and health, he later volunteered in a variety of ways well into his 80s. He was a strong advocate for those with disabilities and worked to promote both services and dignity for that population. He genuinely enjoyed people, was a big teaser, and loved his family most of all.
He was a longtime member of Calvary United Methodist Church, in Mohnton, Pa.
Cremation will be performed by the Cremation Society of Pa.
A memorial service will be held at the Mount Moriah United Methodist Church, in Bruceton Mills, at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Neil’s name to Threshold Rehabilitation Services Inc., 1000 Lancaster Ave., Shillington, PA 19607.
