Allen Lee Rush Jr.

May 3, 1924 – December 27, 2017

Allen was born in Newburyport, MA to Allen L. Rush Sr. of Maize, KS and Henrietta (Burke) Rush of Amesbury, MA. He grew up in Amesbury, MA the third of six children. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings Barbara Crew in Torrance, CA, Betty Davis in Portsmouth, NH, James (Irv) Rush in Torrance, CA, Kenneth Rush in Altamonte Springs, FL, and Lawrence Rush in New Orleans, LA.

Allen served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1942-1948. He served aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) as Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class. On the morning of May 11,1945 while supporting the invasion of Okinawa, Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikazes in quick succession, setting the vessel on fire. 390 sailors and airmen were killed, including 43 missing (never found), and 264 wounded. Allen was awarded 6 medals for this service. Three individual and 3 Unit awards.

Allen also served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War for 2 years in the Ready Reserves from 1948-1950 and was called back to service in 1950–1952 aboard the USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-102) in the Philippines. Allen was awarded 2 individual medals for this service.

On August 27, 1949 Allen married June Y. Hinton of Seattle in St. James Cathedral Seattle, WA. They lived in Renton, WA and owned and operated a restaurant and later a gas station. They started their family in Renton until their home and land was purchased for what would become Oliver M. Hazen High School. They moved to Carnation, WA in 1963, purchased a home, and continued to raise their family. They had 12 children; Kathleen (John) Spokus of Carnation, Laura (Pat) Ross of Woodinville, Stephen Allen Rush, Daniel (Kathy) Rush of Carnation, Paul (Jean) Rush of Duvall, David (Joyce) Rush of Duvall, Sandra (Gary) Rush-Quintana of Renton, Martha Jones of Kirkland, William (Kelley) Rush of Carnation, Robert Rush of Renton, Thomas (Traci)Rush of Lacey, & Donna (John) Baldessari of Wichita, KS. Allen was preceded in death by his wife, June, on November 15, 1966, by his son Stephen Allen Rush on July 21, 1971, by his granddaughter Sarah Chloe Jones in October 4, 1986, by his granddaughter Jennifer Lee Ann Rush on June 7, 1998, and by his great grandson Jacob Robert Green on October 12, 2004.

On November 2, 1973 Allen married Winifred R. Lawson of Carnation in St. Anthony Catholic Church Carnation, WA. Winifred joined Allen’s family with 3 sons of her own Robert (Connie) Lawson of Bellingham, Thomas (Deb) Lawson of Duvall, and John (Julie) Lawson of Moses Lake. Allen was preceded in death by his wife Winifred on February 15, 1997, and by Robert Lawson on June 7, 2012 & Julie Lawson on October 15, 2013.

Allen is survived by 34 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren…so far 😊

Allen worked for many years as a laborer on the pond at the Weyerhaeuser Company Plywood Mill in Snoqualmie, WA. He retired in 1986 at the age of 62.

Shortly after retirement from Weyerhaeuser Allen began volunteering at the Carnation Food Bank (presently Hopelink) and served there for 30 years.

He also found much enjoyment at the Sno-Valley Senior Center and loved to have lunch there each day, visiting with all of his friends and the staff.

Allen was a life-long member of the Roman Catholic Church and attended 14 years at St.Anthony in Renton, 29 years at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Carnation and his final 26 years at St. Mary of the Valley in Monroe where he also served as a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion.

Allen will be deeply missed by all that had the great fortune to know such a handsome, funny, strong, loving, kind, simple in all of the best ways, compassionate, and adoring Man. He was simply the BEST!

In lieu of flowers please donate any amount, no matter how small or large, to the Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation or to Hopelink the Carnation Food Bank