Paul Edward Rust

Memorial services for Paul Edward Rust, 68, will be held at 2:00 PM, on Saturday May 24, 2025 at Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home. Mr. Rust passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Lawton, Oklahoma. Paul was born on April 27, 1957 in Lawton, Oklahoma to the late Raymond E. Rust and Mary L.(Morgan). Paul and his sister Cathey grew up in Lawton with half-brothers Maurice Morgan and Allan Adamson. He obtained a high school diploma from Eisenhower High, attended vo-tech and first made money as a locksmith and auto mechanic. He spent 5 years with the City of Lawton before starting a 40-year career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Nov. 26, 1979. Paul married Susan James in Sept. 1979; They raised three children and lived in Tyler, Texas, Napanee and Kingston, Ontario before moving back to Lawton in 1994. They divorced in 2015. Later in his career, Paul worked at Goodyear plants all over the world, traveling to Chile, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, China, India and more to oversee projects. He cherished lifelong relationships with coworkers – including the Nuronia Brothers – and prioritized attending monthly retiree dinners. After retiring in Lawton, he met his wife Thanaphon "Gina" Cheonghwah, and they married on Oct. 18, 2022. The two had recently returned from Thailand, where they enjoyed visiting friends and family, including Piya and her son. Paul lived loudly and proudly loving anything that "goes fast." He drove modifieds, built cars, watched races, ordered parts and volunteered at tracks everywhere he went, especially with Bob and "the team." Paul looked forward to riding his motorcycle with Gina or any nearby grandkids. Planning class reunions was oddly Paul's retirement passion project, and he was anxiously awaiting the upcoming 50-year celebration. Paul was brilliant, honorable and could fix anything. He loved rock-and-roll, playing the trumpet, Partners Club, Sassy and Spice, arguing on the internet, smoking delectable meat and, most of all, supporting his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, "Gina," of the home; his three children and spouses: Nikki and Mike Tugmon of Lawton, Bart and Catherine Rust of Kingsland, Georgia; Malinda and Enrique Perez of Lawton; stepdaughter Piya Cheonghaw of Thailand; grandchildren Amber, Larry, Charley, Cameron, Lily, Morgan, Ingrid, Josey, Cullen, Xena and Sky. His sister and husband, Cathey and Tom Parrot of Phoenix, Arizona and their kids, Jason, Justin and Jenna. Countless lifelong friends. Paul is predeceased by his father, Raymond Rust, and his mother, Mary Rust. To send flowers to the family of Paul, please visit our floral store.