Willis (Bill) Burton Rush of Rapid City, SD passed away on April 17, 2013. He was born in Greenwood (Sebastian County), AR on November 25, 1928 to the late Joseph Edward Rush and Lillie Viola Rush. Bill grew up on a farm in Arkansas until age 13, then moved to AZ, then CA and continued doing farm work until April 21, 1948, when he joined the U S Navy. He received his boot camp training in San Diego, CA and also attended a Class A Radioman School there. He was then stationed with Fleet Air Wing Fourteen on the North Island Naval Air Station, in San Diego, CA. Bill served on active duty in the U S Navy until his retirement and honorable discharge on June 30, 1970. During his Naval service he attained the highest enlisted rating in the Navy; that of Master Chief Petty Officer (Radioman). His ships and station included the USS Pine Island AV-12, the USS Salisbury Sound AV-13, Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Oahu, T.H., Class B Radioman School in Bainbridge, MD, the USS Boyd DD-544, Naval Air Station Moffett Field, CA, the USS Mauna Kea AE-22, Teletype Repair School, San Diego, CA., Movie Projector Operator school, San Diego, CA, Naval Communications Station, Guam, Marianas Islands, Naval Communication Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico. During his tenure in the Navy Bill was awarded the following awards and commendations; National Defense Service Medal, Second Award; Five Good Conduct Awards; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Korean Service Medal; China Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Department of the Navy, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Upon his retirement from the Navy he worked as a police dispatcher for Pima County in Tucson, Arizona for several years. Then he and his wife relocated to Arkansas, where they bought a hog farm, then later raised cattle, and just enjoyed life. Bill was a member of the following organizations; Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Retired Enlisted Association. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Beverly Ann Rush of Arcadia, CA. Survivors include a son, Andrew Rush (Sol Cha Rush), of Lawrenceville, GA; a daughter, Nancy Kellen, of Rapid City, SD; a grandson, Daniel Tavares (Tiffany Tavares) and two great grand children (Trinity and Dominic), in Dover, DE; one brother, Warren Rush, in Tucson, AZ; one brother, Joe Dale Rush, in Oakdale, CA; one sister, Imogene Clinton, in Modesto, CA; many nieces and nephews; his special friends Ales Smith, Kerry Brown and Dan and Lyndall Foral, and others too numerous to mention. Bill always considered himself lucky, if not downright blessed, by having a long life, a wonderful and supportive wife, and two great children, which he and his wife were both so very proud of. Bill loved music, cooking, and doing creative things on his computer. He was a kind, generous, and loving person and will be very much missed by all who knew him. “We are all adrift on a brief and uncertain journeyBravery, love and cherished memoriesAnchor us and will last foreverWe wish Fair Winds and Following SeasFor those who have gone on”