Rush Simonson Obituary

Rush Simonson TEQUESTA, FL - Rush Simonson, 84, of Tequesta, FL, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, in Charleston, SC, after a prolonged illness. Born on February 1, 1926, in Luxora, AR, he was a son of the late Simeon Everly Simonson and Eddie Sue Rush. An Eagle Scout in his youth, he later volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 where he served as an aircraft recognition instructor, drill instructor and attended B-29 school. After honorable discharge in 1945, he became one of the original U.S. stock car builders, owners, and drivers while attending Henderson State Teacher's College. He then transferred to Oklahoma A&M to complete his B.S. at the School of Engineering. In the interim, he became 2nd Lieutenant in Advanced ROTC. He was a lifetime member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He spent the next 22 years raising a family and working domestically and internationally for the Union Carbide Corp. In 1971, to spend more time with his family, he resigned and began his own business in West Palm Beach, FL. For 20 years, he and his family ran multiple successful enterprises, realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. His passions included scuba diving, world travel, foreign languages and music. He will be fondly remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend with an incredible sense of humor and fun-loving personality, always ready with a song and his harmonica. He was also an active member of The First Baptist Church of Tequesta. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Earla Melott Simonson, brother Col. (RET) Eugene Michael Simonson, four children: Linda Simonson Spratt (John), Rush Edward Simonson (Lori), Robert Eugene Simonson (Tatiana), Peter Melott Simonson (Elizabeth), and ten grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 o'clock Saturday morning, February 5, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Tequesta, 423 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hannah's Home of South Florida, P.O. Box 4512, Tequesta, Florida 33469, or to The Gideon's Int'l., P.O. Box 8373, Jupiter, Florida 33468. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths