Allen "Al" H Bush

Following a long illness, the boy from Turtletown, Allen Howard Bush was called home by his Lord on Monday September 11, 2023 while in Hospice Care at age 86. He leaves behind his wife Elizabeth Doty Bush, daughters Patrica, Kathleen and Julia, and sons Michael [Kate], Daniel [Nancy], William [Mindy] and their families.

Al was the first born to Howard Maurice Bush and Alice Claire Jones Bush, entering this world on June 1, 1937 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Al’s father passed away a young man, and memorably, his Uncle Jack Jones declared him the be the ‘man of the family now’ at the age of 12. His brothers Warren and Paul have predeceased him, his sister Alice Judge resides today in Sayre, PA.

The first in his family to achieve a college degree, Al graduated from Alfred University in Alfred, NY in 1960 with a degree in Economics and Business. In 1972, he would receive a Masters Degree in Business and Finance from Gannon University in Erie, PA.

Prior to graduation, Al married his high school sweetheart from the Owego Free Academy in Owego, NY. Elizabeth Doty and Allen Bush were married September 5, 1959 and they relocated to Bath, NY and then to Erie, PA where he had accepted a management trainee position with General Telephone of Pennsylvania upon graduation.

Al had a long and successful career in Telephony and Telecommunications, starting out a as a pole climber, and rising to Director of Operations and Planning for GTE Corporation based in Dallas, TX during an amazing period in Telephony where punch cards and party lines would be replaced by fiber optic cable, and the internet would be introduced. Antique glass insulators from old telephone lines would decorate his home and office throughout his life.

A dedicated hard working professional Al retired the first time in 1992, from GTE, and from Alcatel (a major Verizon switch provider) in 2002.

Al enjoyed working with his hands and helping people, skills which he deployed in combination over the decades ranging from helping victims of the 1972 Wilkes-Barre flood rebuild their lives, to running a roofing team for Richardson Area Interfaith in support of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, to making fancy cutting boards for family and friends with his daughter Kathy.

In 2015, only days after leading the installation of a Habitat roof, Al suffered a life altering accident falling down 15 steps headfirst. Following an induced coma to treat the brain trauma, and months of rigorous Physical Therapy, he was not only able to regain most of his function, he was able to dance at his granddaughter Emily’s wedding three years after the accident. This is the Al Bush we love and will long remember.

Al is survived by his wife Liz, six children, 10 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to count.

A convert to Roman Catholicism as a young man, Al has been a person of abiding faith, and a steadfast member of the All Saints Catholic Community for decades. An avid volunteer at All Saints, Al served in a wide variety of roles: Bible Study Facilitator, Head Usher, Maintenance Man, Festival Lead, Men’s Club leader and much more.

All are welcome to come and joyously recall Al’s life and his deep contributions to Dallas over the years.

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life: All Saints Campus (5231 Meadowcreek in Dallas, TX 75248) at 11am followed by lunch;

In Lieu of Flowers the family requests consideration of a gift in the name of Allen Bush to: Richardson Area Interfaith Habitat (link needed) North Texas Foodbank (link needed)

The family would like to give Special thanks to Sunrise Senior Living in Plano where Al was being cared for by the remarkable Memory Care and Hospice Teams.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Bush family.