George Joseph Matthew RUSCHELL

RUSCHELL George Joseph Matthew, a native Kentuckian was on born Oct 11, 1922, and died at his home in the presence of his loving family on Aug 23, 2010. George Ruschell served his nation in World War II, training as an airplane pilot and later marched as a signal corpsman into Paris after the allies won back the city. After the war he served his country and his state as a reserved officer in the U.S. Army and was recalled to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis with the 100th Infantry Division in 1961. He was proud of his service and was honored with numerous medals during his service to his country and retired with the rank of Major. Mr. Ruschell received a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Kentucky University in 1951 and an MBA in 1952 from the University of Kentucky. He was a senior administrator at the University of Kentucky during a time of tremendous change and growth in the post war years, and was actively involved in the planning of this growth both at the University and for the city of Lexington. He was a charter member of the Bluegrass Kiwanis, a University of Kentucky Fellow, member of Spindletop Hall, the Civil War Round Table and served in leadership roles in numerous professional organizations. George Ruschell is preceded in death by his mother, Julia Marie McDermott Ruschell, his father Oscar Mathew Ruschell, his brother Robert Ruschell , his sisters Julianne Conley and Helen Willard and his nephew Keith Ruschell. Mr. Ruschell is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bonnie Alexander Ruschell, his brother Samuel T. Ruschell, his sister Nancy Jo Yeager, his four children, James Michael Ruschell, Stephen Mathew Ruschell, Ralph Alexander Ruschell and Julia Ruschell Snow; six granddaughters, six grandsons, five great grandsons and four great granddaughters. He taught his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to swim, golf, and fish, to tell a good joke, to put others at ease and to treat all encountered with dignity and respect. George Ruschell was a scholar and served in education all of his life. The family requests contributions be made to The George J. and Bonnie F. Ruschell Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky. Contributions may be made in his name to the fund at the University of Kentucky, Office of Development, 100 Sturgill Building, Lexington, Kentucky, 40536-0015. Visitation will be held at Kerr Brother's Funeral home, 463 East Main Street, Lexington, KY on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 from 5-7pm. Funeral Services will be held at 11am Fri at the Walnut Hill Church, 575 Walnut Hill Road, Lexington, KY.