Charles William Bush

By | September 10, 2019

Charles William Bush, age 72, of Oak Hill, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. Bill was born May 26, 1947 in Gallipolis, Ohio to William Lambert Bush and Esther (Stewart) Bush.

Bill started farming with his father at the age of 5. His father often told stories about riding with Bill in his truck with Bill standing in the seat with his arms over the seat and Bill always saying “Me have idea Daddy”. During high school Bill worked at the farm his father managed, Triple E Farm in Gallipolis. Bill graduated from Gallia Academy High School in 1965.

Bill spent his summers while attending college working at Hidden Valley Ranch for Bob Evans. Bill graduated from the Ohio State University with an Animal Science degree in 1969. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent his military career stationed in Seoul, Korea during the Vietnam War. After his service Bill worked for Bob Evans as an assistant manager at the Chillicothe, Ohio restaurant which was the first Bob Evans restaurant location after the original Rio Grande home place restaurant.

Bill came back to Gallia County and worked for Riverwood Farms and fell in love with Judy (Burcham) Bush, whom he knew from Gallia Academy, and they married on Oct. 14, 1973. Bill and Judy lived on Hidden Valley Ranch for five months before moving to Oak Hill, Ohio in February 1974 where he managed the Royal Oak Farm. Bill and Judy made their family and their life for 46 years in Oak Hill.

Bill and Judy had two children, daughter Amanda Lee and son William Bradley. Bill began farming for himself and working for Oak Hill Union Local School District in 1987 as the Vocational Agricultural teacher/FFA instructor. While working as a teacher Bill received his Master’s Degree in Education from Ohio University. Bill retired from Oak Hill Union Local School District in 2010.

Bill had five grandchildren that he was very proud of: One granddaughter, Grace, and four grandsons, William, Walker, Avery, and Wyatt.

Bill enjoyed his grandchildren, farming, writing up itineraries for trips, watching Fox News, talking politics, telling jokes, saying rhyming verses, and asking you to solve math riddles. He was known for his dry sense of humor. Bill showed cattle in his early years and was very involved with his children at the Jackson County Fair and Ohio State Fair.

Bill is survived by his wife, Judy (Burcham) Bush; daughter, Amanda (Kurtis) Strickland; son, Brad (Dawne) Bush; his grandchildren; baby brother, Dean Bush of Webster, Florida; sister, Patty (Tom) Stutes of Tennessee; brother-in-law, Jerry Burcham of Gallipolis, Ohio; several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and his in-laws, Lee and Geraldine Burcham of Gallipolis, Ohio.

Bill was a wonderful husband, father, and Papaw and will be sorely missed.

Services were conducted by Waugh-Halley-Wood Funeral Home and Bill was laid to rest on Aug. 20, 2019 at the Pine Street Cemetery in Gallipolis, Ohio.