C.R. Bush

Charles Rich “C.R.” Bush, 88, of Lenoir died on Sunday at Watauga Medical Center in Boone. C.R. was born in Lenoir on June 7, 1927 to the late Richard Milton Bush and Bertha Louise Deitz Bush. He is survived by his wife, Doris Hinson Bush; son, Charles Richard Bush; daughter, Laura Bush Sedlacek, husband Scott Sedlacek and grandson Rylan Bush Sedlacek; and brother, Captain Phillip Brooks Bush II, USN (Ret.). C.R. was a graduate of Central High School (Lenoir) and Lenoir-Rhyne College with a degree in business administration. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II and was a member of American Legion Post 29. He loved Lenoir-Rhyne sports, especially football. He was an avid Carolina Panthers fan and PSL holder with son, Richard, attending every home game from the inaugural season until recently, and also was a big basketball and baseball fan. Before major professional sports reached Charlotte, he regularly took his family to games in Atlanta. He loved to travel, instilling that love to his children, and made many trips over the years to numerous countries, including many visits to Germany, saw 47 states in total and made a trip across the country by train. He especially enjoyed driving along Route 66 and visiting Yellowstone Park, and he traveled across much of the original Oregon Trail through Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. In recent years, he loved nothing more than spending time with his grandson, “Master Rylan,” and made numerous trips with him to ride old steam trains. He also loved to read mystery books. His favorites were by Tony Hillerman. C.R. was an Eagle Scout and earned the Pro Deo Et Patria Award (God and Country) and over 40 merit badges and awards. He was loyal to the Boy Scouts and served as a Scoutmaster for many years. He was president of Bush and Associates, which he loved to operate with his daughter, Laura, and received many awards and recognitions through the years. In his only brief time not living in Lenoir, he worked for Commercial Credit in Rockingham, N.C., and Charlotte before moving back to Lenoir to work for Lenoir Finance Co. and then American Credit Co., where he was a vice president. C.R. was a long-time member of the Lenoir Optimist Club, serving as president and participating in many of the various activities including youth sports and the annual Lenoir Horse Show. He was also an active member of the Edelweiss German-American Club and served as president for six years. He was a lifelong member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lenoir and served in many capacities including as a member of the church council. Funeral services will be at 3 pm on Wednesday at St. Stephen’s. The family will receive from 1 pm to 3 pm at the church prior to the service. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Lenoir Optimist Club. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir. Donations in C.R.’s memory can be made to St. Stephen's; the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, 2229 W. Gary Blvd., Clinton, OK, 73601; or the Wolf Recovery Foundation, PO Box 444, Pocatello, ID, 83204.‎ Online condolences may be sent to the Bush family at www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the Bush Family.