Mr. Charlie Dickson Rush

HMC Charlie D. Rush, US Navy (Ret.), 89, formerly of Albany, died Wednesday, October 7, 2015 in Palm Harbor, FL. His memorial service will be at 3 PM on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Kimbrell-Stern with the interment of his cremated remains to follow at Floral Memory Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern on Saturday beginning at 2 PM until the funeral hour. Mr. Rush began his military career on Feb. 1943 and retired in Albany, GA on Feb. 1, 1971. During WWII, he served with the 4th Marine Division on the island of Tinian, during the Korean War, he served with the 1st Marine Division, and during the Vietnam War, he served with the 3rd Marine Division. He was awarded many medals and citations during his career. On January 29, 1969, HMC Rush received the Navy Commendation Medal from Capt. R. L. Johns at the Naval Air Station Albany. The citation read in part: “For meritorious service while serving as Medical Chief of the Second Battalion, Twelfth Marines, Third Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy of the Republic of Vietnam from 23 Sept., 1967 to 21 Sept., 1968, throughout this period, Chief Petty Officer Rush performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner…Chief Rush saved the lives of two men when they, among others, by a detonated artillery round…by his leadership, superb technical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Chief Petty Officer Rush upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Navy.” He always took his wife and children to his home port. Upon his retirement, he was an original employee of Palmyra Park Hospital where he worked for over 20 years. He won the first Humanitarian Award in 1976. He invented the Rush 90/90 traction, and helped the lives of his patients with his ingenuity. Mr. Rush was one of the first EMT’s in Georgia, and assisted Dr. Charles Gillespie in implementing the training of EMT’s in Georgia. Following his retirement from Palmyra Park, Mr. Rush enjoyed spending time with his family and fishing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claire and Lon Rush, sons, Charles Rush and Stanley Rush, brothers, Pete Rush and Paul Rush, sisters, Lorene Fuson, Stella Mays, and Naomia Burnelli. Mr. Rush is survived by his wife of 66 years, Nell Mizzelle Rush, Dunedin, FL; daughter: Stacy Rush, Dunedin, FL; granddaughter: Misty Stanton; grandsons: David Ostrander and his partner Ryan Holden, Tampa, FL, Stephen Ostrander and his wife Paula, Jacksonville, NC; 3 great-granddaughters: Rebecca Neal, Natalia Gonzales, and Taya Ostrander; 3 sisters-in-law: Maxine Belk and her husband Johnny, Albany, Alva Williams and her husband Larry, Jacksonville, NC, Debbie Kiss, and her husband Joseph, Norfolk, VA. You may sign the online guestbook and share your memories with the family of HMC Charlie D. Rush by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mr. Charlie Dickson Rush

December 11, 1925 - October 7, 2015