Paul W. Rush Sr.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Mary Lou Rush, sons Paul Wesley Jr (Mary Beth) and Arthur (Spring), daughters Laura Rush and Alison Huang (Conway) and eight grandchildren; Wesley Paige Gulledge, Caroline Rush, Catherine Rush, and Cayley Ann Rush, Nathan Rush, Noah Rush, Mia Huang and Rollins Huang.

His extended family included caregivers Portia Ashman and Keyonna Manning.

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Paul was born in Rome, GA to John Paul and Kathleen Rush. His sisters Annie Lee McClure and Hazel Lynch preceded him in death. Paul excelled in school, studying physics, Latin and a variety of advanced math courses and even skipped a year of junior high school. He was a Boy Scout and played the trumpet in the junior high and high school bands.

After graduating from Tech High School Paul attended Georgia Tech and went to work with the phone company in Atlanta, then called Southern Bell. The phone company was the only company he worked for, where he retired in the summer of 1985 after 46 years of service. His dedication and longevity with the phone company were examples of the dedication and commitment he exhibited over his lifetime.

Paul was transferred to Monroe, La where he met and married Mary Lou Kern. They moved to New Orleans in 1960 and in the summer of 1976 moved their family of six to Birmingham, AL where he lived the remainder of his life.

Photography was Paul’s hobby, and early in his life considered making it a career. There was typically a still camera, movie camera, or both at family events, ball games and special occasions. Often every day events were captured on film. As a dad, Paul often tortured the kids on Christmas morning by saying he had to set up the movie camera – taking his sweet time - while making the kids wait before the wild scramble for the Christmas gifts could break loose. Over the years, Paul shot thousands of pictures and miles of 8mm film capturing family members and friends through the lens of a variety of cameras.

Flowers, specifically roses, were a frequent target for his photography work. Since Paul also grew roses he often did not have far to go to capture his favorite subject. His photography was another symbol of how Paul lived; very content and comfortable behind the scenes, letting others have the lime light, and doing absolutely nothing to call attention to himself.

Paul and Mary Lou raised four children in a Christian home where the kids were active in church and had all they needed, including a consistent father figure. Schedules were consistent; leaving for work, coming home for work, and supper at 6pm. He offered help with math homework, but most of the kids did not inherit his math skills. However, all the kids learned the quiet, consistent, persistent work ethic demonstrated in his own life. Paul also supported the extra-curricular events the kids took part in, always with a camera in hand.

As a dad, Paul was very judicious with his words, never critical and demeaning. Always encouraging and positive, even when the children deserved a stern reprimand. Paul was a peacemaker and did everything possible to keep home a peaceful place.

Fortunate for the children they all received a great trait from Paul – a sense of humor. A wit that was cat like quick and sometimes dry as bone, but an ever present and much appreciated characteristic – even as his mental capacity was diminishing.

Paul was a consistent role model to the family, especially with money and with manners. Growing up the word “no” was used often, much to the disappointment of the kids when there were things they wanted but wasn’t practical. The family had a budget, and the budget meant something. But the kids always had clothes on their back, a safe place to live, and food on the table. Even in his last days, hours, and even minutes, Paul was always polite. During his last 18 months sitters stayed with dad 24 hours a day to help with everyday living and tasks. He may not have remembered the sitters name, maybe called her the wrong name, but even the smallest gesture by the sitter was followed with a “thank you”. A gentleman literally to the very end.

Paul was very active in church serving in a variety of roles over several decades including church deacon, chairman of deacons, Sunday school teacher and church treasurer. He was a founding member of a group called The Encouragers, a group dedicated to visiting shut-ins. Paul was a great conversationalist because the conversation was never about him, and always about you. His interest in you was genuine, and was evident even his last few days on this earth.

True to his nature, one of his proudest achievements was what he said the least about, and that was his military service. Paul volunteered for the Army 3 months after the invasion of Pearl Harbor. Paul had to cheat to get in because he did not meet the minimum weight requirement. The weight requirement was a struggle because food and meals were not always a certainty, but that did not deter his decision to volunteer, and determination to serve his country.

Paul was a Navigator and Bombardier in a B-25 Bomber, where navigation was done through maps during the day and stars at night. In addition to filling those roles in active duty in the Pacific Theatre, Paul trained servicemen in Bombardier school. If you wanted to know about his service experience he would answer any questions you had, but details were hard to come by. That’s how you handle the topic of war when you are a member of the Greatest Generation. Quiet and humble, because your actions speak louder – much louder – than the words. Paul was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in April 1946.

In November 2008 Paul got to go on an Honor Flight, and Arthur escorted him on the trip. Honor Flight is dedicated to serving the few remaining, and quickly dwindling number of WWII veterans. Through corporate and private donations, Honor Flight takes veterans on an all-expenses paid trip to Washington DC to see the WWII Memorial and other meaningful sites. Crowds often cheer and greet the vets as they pass through airports or tour historic sites in Washington DC. After the trip Paul said he never felt like a hero before the trip. Yes, a hero.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Honor Flight at https://www.honorflight.org/donate-now/.