Donald W. "Duck" Rush, 57, of Avella, died at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in his home, surrounded by family, after a 20-year battle with complications from a previous accident.
He was born December 15, 1954, in Washington, son of Albert L. "Abbie" Rush of West Middletown and the late Jane D. Rohr Rush.
Mr. Rush was a 1973 graduate of Avella High School.
He was employed as a lineman in the wire gang at Weirton Steel from 1973 until the time of his work accident October 2, 1991, which left him paralyzed.
Before his accident, he was an avid softball player, playing fast-pitch for Avella Athletics Inc. and slow-pitch for Whitey's. He also enjoyed golf and bowling.
Mr. Rush dedicated his life to the youth of the Avella community and coached all ages for close to 30 years. He began coaching for Avella Athletics Inc. in 1973 as a youth wrestling coach, and in 1989, he began coaching Little League football and baseball. For the past 18 years, he had been the Avella High School wrestling coach and ran the school weight room. He also coached junior varsity wrestling and football and varsity football.
He was a lifelong resident of Avella and was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and Polar Star Mutual Benefit Society of Avella and was a lifetime member of Avella Athletics Inc.
Mr. Rush loved his grandchildren, family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all. His life was filled with challenges, but he never let them slow him down. He enjoyed life to the fullest, no matter what the situation.
On April 19, 1980, he married his best friend and life partner, Rosemary Cruny, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Donald W. (Elizabeth) Rush Jr. of Bethel Park and Charles A. "Chas" (Catherine) Rush of Avella; five grandchildren, Jordan, Haleigh, Charlie, Madison and Victoria Jane; and two brothers, Albert "Abbie" (Cindy) Rush of Triadelphia, W.Va., and Stan (Phyllis) Rush of Washington.
Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. Additional visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., the time of the service, Saturday, April 14, in Grove United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jack Emerick officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery, Avella.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grove U.P. Church, Avella Volunteer Fire Department or Athletics Inc.
He was born December 15, 1954, in Washington, son of Albert L. "Abbie" Rush of West Middletown and the late Jane D. Rohr Rush.
Mr. Rush was a 1973 graduate of Avella High School.
He was employed as a lineman in the wire gang at Weirton Steel from 1973 until the time of his work accident October 2, 1991, which left him paralyzed.
Before his accident, he was an avid softball player, playing fast-pitch for Avella Athletics Inc. and slow-pitch for Whitey's. He also enjoyed golf and bowling.
Mr. Rush dedicated his life to the youth of the Avella community and coached all ages for close to 30 years. He began coaching for Avella Athletics Inc. in 1973 as a youth wrestling coach, and in 1989, he began coaching Little League football and baseball. For the past 18 years, he had been the Avella High School wrestling coach and ran the school weight room. He also coached junior varsity wrestling and football and varsity football.
He was a lifelong resident of Avella and was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and Polar Star Mutual Benefit Society of Avella and was a lifetime member of Avella Athletics Inc.
Mr. Rush loved his grandchildren, family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all. His life was filled with challenges, but he never let them slow him down. He enjoyed life to the fullest, no matter what the situation.
On April 19, 1980, he married his best friend and life partner, Rosemary Cruny, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Donald W. (Elizabeth) Rush Jr. of Bethel Park and Charles A. "Chas" (Catherine) Rush of Avella; five grandchildren, Jordan, Haleigh, Charlie, Madison and Victoria Jane; and two brothers, Albert "Abbie" (Cindy) Rush of Triadelphia, W.Va., and Stan (Phyllis) Rush of Washington.
Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. Additional visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., the time of the service, Saturday, April 14, in Grove United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jack Emerick officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery, Avella.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grove U.P. Church, Avella Volunteer Fire Department or Athletics Inc.
Donald W. "Duck" Rush, 57, of Avella, died at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in his home, surrounded by family, after a 20-year battle with complications from a previous accident.
He was born December 15, 1954, in Washington, son of Albert L. "Abbie" Rush of West Middletown and the late Jane D. Rohr Rush.
Mr. Rush was a 1973 graduate of Avella High School.
He was employed as a lineman in the wire gang at Weirton Steel from 1973 until the time of his work accident October 2, 1991, which left him paralyzed.
Before his accident, he was an avid softball player, playing fast-pitch for Avella Athletics Inc. and slow-pitch for Whitey's. He also enjoyed golf and bowling.
Mr. Rush dedicated his life to the youth of the Avella community and coached all ages for close to 30 years. He began coaching for Avella Athletics Inc. in 1973 as a youth wrestling coach, and in 1989, he began coaching Little League football and baseball. For the past 18 years, he had been the Avella High School wrestling coach and ran the school weight room. He also coached junior varsity wrestling and football and varsity football.
He was a lifelong resident of Avella and was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and Polar Star Mutual Benefit Society of Avella and was a lifetime member of Avella Athletics Inc.
Mr. Rush loved his grandchildren, family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all. His life was filled with challenges, but he never let them slow him down. He enjoyed life to the fullest, no matter what the situation.
On April 19, 1980, he married his best friend and life partner, Rosemary Cruny, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Donald W. (Elizabeth) Rush Jr. of Bethel Park and Charles A. "Chas" (Catherine) Rush of Avella; five grandchildren, Jordan, Haleigh, Charlie, Madison and Victoria Jane; and two brothers, Albert "Abbie" (Cindy) Rush of Triadelphia, W.Va., and Stan (Phyllis) Rush of Washington.
Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. Additional visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., the time of the service, Saturday, April 14, in Grove United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jack Emerick officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery, Avella.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grove U.P. Church, Avella Volunteer Fire Department or Athletics Inc.
He was born December 15, 1954, in Washington, son of Albert L. "Abbie" Rush of West Middletown and the late Jane D. Rohr Rush.
Mr. Rush was a 1973 graduate of Avella High School.
He was employed as a lineman in the wire gang at Weirton Steel from 1973 until the time of his work accident October 2, 1991, which left him paralyzed.
Before his accident, he was an avid softball player, playing fast-pitch for Avella Athletics Inc. and slow-pitch for Whitey's. He also enjoyed golf and bowling.
Mr. Rush dedicated his life to the youth of the Avella community and coached all ages for close to 30 years. He began coaching for Avella Athletics Inc. in 1973 as a youth wrestling coach, and in 1989, he began coaching Little League football and baseball. For the past 18 years, he had been the Avella High School wrestling coach and ran the school weight room. He also coached junior varsity wrestling and football and varsity football.
He was a lifelong resident of Avella and was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown and Polar Star Mutual Benefit Society of Avella and was a lifetime member of Avella Athletics Inc.
Mr. Rush loved his grandchildren, family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all. His life was filled with challenges, but he never let them slow him down. He enjoyed life to the fullest, no matter what the situation.
On April 19, 1980, he married his best friend and life partner, Rosemary Cruny, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Donald W. (Elizabeth) Rush Jr. of Bethel Park and Charles A. "Chas" (Catherine) Rush of Avella; five grandchildren, Jordan, Haleigh, Charlie, Madison and Victoria Jane; and two brothers, Albert "Abbie" (Cindy) Rush of Triadelphia, W.Va., and Stan (Phyllis) Rush of Washington.
Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. Additional visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., the time of the service, Saturday, April 14, in Grove United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jack Emerick officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery, Avella.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grove U.P. Church, Avella Volunteer Fire Department or Athletics Inc.
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