Lonnie Earl Rush

Lonnie Earl Rush, longtime Nowata resident, left this life to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Tuesday, January 13th.

He was born February 4, 1946, in Melbourne, Arkansas to Hina Rush & Armilda (Neel) Rush. He attended school for a few years in Arkansas before moving to Vinita, Claremore, Alluwe and Nowata. Lonnie attended school in Nowata through 11th grade.

He first married Donna C. Thompson in 1968 and they later divorced. Two children were born of this marriage Brandon Lynn Rush and Amy Marie (Rush) Snowden.

Lonnie was drafted in the US Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic. He earned his GED while serving in the Army. He was honorably discharged in April 1970. Lonnie attended Bartlesville Tri-county Tech one year and graduated in air conditioning and refrigeration.

Lonnie lived in rural Collinsville area ten years and was employed at Kaiser Aluminum of Tulsa for nine years as a welder; then Sooner Fabricating of Broken Arrow for twenty years as a welder.

He married the love of his life, Linda Faye Davis, November 23, 1979 at the home of her parents Claude L. & Dora Davis.

Lonnie lived in rural Nowata on Oologah Lake and worked at Nautilus nine years before retirement in 2008.

He enjoyed his children and grandchildren and traveling to Alaska and Hawaii. He also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. He was an usher at First Baptist Nowata and loved his church family and going on Colorado mission trips. He especially enjoyed spending time with Linda, his wife of 46 years and the love of his life.

Lonnie is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home in Nowata; son Brandon Rush & wife Ceejay of rural Nowata, daughter Amy Rush Snowden & husband Don of Wexford, PA, grandchildren Kyle Rush & wife Heather of Owasso, Hunter Rush & wife Celestia of Claremore, Avery Snowden, Ryann Snowden, Maxwell Goad, and Mason Brendle. Also survived by great-grandchildren Kyler Rush, Kambry Rush, Avery Goad and Lincoln Wayne, two sisters Mary Fowler of Coffeyville, KS and Linder Miller & husband Don of Wann, OK.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Calvin Rush and both his parents.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.