Elizabeth Bush

Bush, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Kauffman Bush died at age 91 in her apartment in Hingham, Massachusetts on February 20, 2014. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years, Prescott S. Bush, Jr. in 2010 and their eldest, Prescott S. Bush III in 2009. Mrs. Bush, who was known as Beth, was born in Annapolis, Maryland to Vice Admiral and Mrs. James Laurence Kauffman on June 19, 1922. As a "navy junior," she attended 14 different schools around the world. After a year at the University of California at Berkeley, Beth and her mother joined her father in Washington, D.C. With the outbreak of World War II, Admiral Kauffman moved the family to his headquarters in Miami, where Beth worked to help the wives of naval officers find housing. On December 30, 1944, she married the love of her life, Prescott Bush, and moved with him to Rio de Janeiro, where Pres worked for Pan American Airways. Two children were born to them in Rio, Prescott, III and Kelsey and in 1948 the family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut where their son, James Laurence was born. Beth was devoted to her family and community, including Christ Church, the Greenwich Committee for Carver Center in Port Chester, NY and Family ReEntry in Norwalk, CT. Beth campaigned enthusiastically for her husband and father-in-law in Connecticut and later for her brother-in-law George H.W. Bush and nephew , George W. Bush. Beth Bush was a lifelong student of poetry, literature and the Bible. She was a disciplined and creative writer, pouring her talent and affection into the book about her older brother, Admiral Draper L. Kauffman and his extraordinary exploits during World War II in France, England and the Pacific. America's First Frogman: the Draper Kauffman Story was publilshed in 2004 and is still in print. Beth is survived by her daughter, Kelsey Bush-Nadeau of Yarmouth, ME, her son and daughter-in-law, James and Sue Bush of Hingham, MA; grandchildren, Elizabeth Nadeau, Katherine Nadeau, Sarah Bush Richey and husband Drake Richey, Samuel Bush, Prescott Nadeau, USMC Captain William Nadeau and his wife Lydia; great-grandchildren Draper Richey and Ellie Nadeau, She loved being part of a large, affectionate family. A memorial service for Elizabeth Kauffman Bush will be held at Christ Church, Greenwich, CT on March 20, 2014 at 1 Oo'clock in the afternoon. Donations can be made to Family ReEntry, Norwalk, CT in lieu of flowers.