Richard Henry (Dick) Rush was born December 25, 1928 in Hanford, CA, the youngest of four children born to Fred and Esther Hansen Rush. He attended school in Hanford, graduating from Hanford High School in 1946. Following graduation Dick attended a junior college until he joined the Air Force in 1948. He served in the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant until 1954; being stationed at Perrin Air Force Base in Sherman and Webb AFB in Big Spring, TX. It was while he was at Perrin AFB that he met the love of his life, Billie Jean Twyford. They were married on July 31, 1951 at Forest Ave. Baptist Church.

After leaving the military Dick worked for his father-in-law Gordon Duke at Duke Electric Company. He worked there until he took part ownership of the company, retiring in 1993. Dick was a member of Forest Avenue Baptist Church since 1951 serving as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Deacon Chair, and a member of the bass section in the choir.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Viola Wilson. Those left to celebrate his legacy are his wife of almost 59 years, Billie Jean; four children: Terri Clewis and her husband Bryan of Fort Worth, Susan Martin and her husband, Paul of Gunter, Stacie McIntosh and her husband, Bob, of Grand Prairie, and Richard Rush and his wife, Donna, of Lubbock, and a son by choice Cary McDougal and his wife Dianne of Dallas. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren by whom he was known as ?Boppa? by one sister Lucille Robb, and one brother Fred Rush, and one brother-in-law Gordon Ray Duke and his wife Darlene of Sherman; and by several nieces and nephews.