Iris L. Rush

1928 - 2015

Iris L. Rush, 86, of Bloomington, passed away at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Calvert and Metzler Funeral Home in Bloomington, with the Revs. Mike Stipp and Mike Oleniczak officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Clinton. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday and one hour before services on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Fairway Knolls Church of the Nazarene in Bloomington. Online condolences may be expressed at www.calvertmemorial.com.
Mrs. Rush was born on Aug. 12, 1928, in Knox County, Ind., the daughter of Carl and Vera Medley Sullivan. She was united in marriage to Roy E. Rush on April 4, 1947, in a garden ceremony at the home of Iris' aunt and uncle, Hattie and Bonnie Sullivan in Weldon. Iris and Roy enjoyed almost 67 glorious years together.
She grew up on her parents farm near Weldon, and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in Weldon in 1946. She was a member of Fairway Knolls Church of the Nazarene in Bloomington, and was a member of the Felicity Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 387 in Normal and Order of the Amaranth Queen Christian Court No. 4 in Peoria Heights. She enjoyed a long career with State Farm Insurance Co., starting during her spring vacation prior to her senior year in high school, first in the Bunn Building on South Main Street in Bloomington, then for 18 years at corporate headquarters as a secretary and 16 years as office manager at the Ralph DeWerf State Farm Agency. Over the years, Iris' hobby was collecting dolls; this collection was very interesting. Iris and Roy enjoyed and planned their many vacations together. Iris enjoyed reading and loved nature very much, both animals and plants; birds and dogs were her favorites. After retirement, Iris and Roy enjoyed spending winters at the home in Lehigh Acres, Fla. Iris enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She was a joy and inspiration to all. Her big smile will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew her.
She is survived by her husband; brother, Dorwin Sullivan and his friend Ginny of Maroa; sisters, Sue and her husband Leland Junkert of Clinton, and Sherri and her husband Jack Wrage of Clinton; brother-in-law, Ted Reffett of Woodstock; many nieces and nephews; special niece, Tammy and her husband Brian Billinglsley of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; and special great-niece and great-nephews, Brian Jr. Stephanie and Ethan Billinglsley of Lehigh Acres, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Barbara Reffett.