Doyle Gene Rush

Funeral services for Doyle Gene Rush, 86, of Huntington will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Huntington First Baptist Church with Pastor Byron Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Jonesville Cemetery.

Doyle Gene Rush was born December 1, 1936 in Comanche, Texas. He went to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday, October 14, 2023. He grew up in the Texas Panhandle and graduated from High School in Muleshoe, Texas. He served his country for 2 years in the United States Army, where his duty was working as an electrician on a Nuclear Missile Silo outside of Milwaukee, Minnesota. Doyle married Atricia Ann Fitzhugh shortly after they met on September 7, 1963. They were married almost 50 years until Atricia was called home to Heaven May 14, 2013. He was a wonderfully handy man, capable of fixing almost anything around a home, yet talented enough as an electrician to build you a nuclear power plant! His sole life purpose was to provide a good life for his wife and children. He will be most remembered as a loving father and husband, and a wonderful Christian man.

Survivors include four children adopted into a loving home: Tina Marie Barnes of Portland, Oregon, David Lee and wife Kimberly Jo Rush of Deer Park, Texas, Tiffany Rice from Portland Oregon, and David Ray Rush of Huntington, Texas; grandchildren, Morgan Rush-Trojan and grandson-in-law Samuel Trojan of Austin, Texas, John Rush from Deer Park, Texas, Heather Barnes, Kaylee, Britney, and Holly Walters of Portland, Oregon; great-grandchildren, Jasmine, Serena, Zack, and Tyler of Portland, Oregon, and Parker Lee Rush of League City, Texas; and his favorite sibling and sister, Roxie Preuss of Etoile, Texas.

He was preceded in deeath by his parents, Millie Inez (Sliger) and Dewey Frank Rush.

My dad was best known by all of the family for his wonderful sense of humor. He LOVED to play pranks on Tricia (a hobby we all grew to love). Dad had an incredible way of saying so much without saying anything at all. In today’s world where people almost feel obligated to give their opinion on everything, getting Dad to express an opinion on anything was like pulling teeth, but when he did, you’d better listen, because it could be some of the sagest advice you’d ever hear.

Dad was born into poverty at the end of the Great Depression; he was literally born in an army style tent that his family lived in by the railroad tracks in Comanche Texas. When he was around 9 years old, he was sent to a sanitorium for people who had contracted Tuberculosis, where he spent almost one year and watched many of the other residents pass from this brutal disease. Once in high school, my Dad found he was very talented in football as well as track and field. Since my Dad had been working on the farm and at various cotton gins since he was a young man, he was quite strong and very fast. During high school, his normal daily routine was getting up around 6am, eat breakfast, walk to school, leave school in the afternoon for football practice, walk home and eat dinner, then work at the cotton gin with his older brothers often until midnight or later. His outstanding work ethic served him well all of his life.

Dad would tell you that marrying Atrica in September of 1963 saved his life. He had been on a bit of a rough path for a few years, and finding someone to love who loved him back gave him his life’s purpose. Doyle and Tricia were unable to have kids of their own, so they adopted Tina early in 1967 and then adopted me (David Lee) in August 1967. My Father was a kind, gentle, patient, and loving man. He was a good provider, a hard worker, and an excellent role model. Doyle always worked as an Electrician, and he thoroughly enjoyed new construction projects. As kids we moved all over the country to wherever there was work for Dad. Years later due to unfortunate life circumstances, Mom and Dad adopted two more children - David Ray and Tiffany Ann. My parents loved all of us kids as though they brought us into this world. The sacrifices they made for us will never be forgotten or taken for granted.

Lastly, I will close by saying, I am a Christian man today because of the encouragement of my Mom and Dad, as well as the role model they portrayed in their daily walk of life. Life was never easy for either of them, but they never complained, nor did they ever question their faith. I know for a fact in the words of Matthew 25:21 that both of my parents heard “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master”.  Amen

Pallbearers will be Jared Reese, David Ray Rush, David Lee Rush, John Rush, and Dane Harrison.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at Huntington First Baptist Church.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.