Long time Scio, Ore., resident Don Rushing, age 80, passed awaypeacefully Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010, at the home of his daughter Rachel(Rushing) Gray.

Don was born March 4, 1930 in Baton Rouge, La., to Ernest C.Rushing and Ida J. (Lofton.) He was raised in Brookhaven, andgraduated from Brookhaven High in 1948.

He served his country honorably as a Navy Corpsman with the FirstMarine Division in Korea. In 1954 he married Ann Louise (Karraker)in California and proceeded to earn an electronics degree fromFullerton Junior College. He worked for many years in the aerospaceindustry and contributed on several historic projects including theApollo moon shots, Skylab, and Space Shuttle.

He moved his family to Oregon in 1973 and worked in the electricalconstruction field followed by many years at Oremet in Albany.Eventually he returned to the aerospace industry and worked atRockwell International on the GPS satellite system until he retiredin 1992. In retirement he worked briefly as a Realtor with Century21 Reliance in Lebanon.

Don will best be remembered for the six children he raised,teaching them how to camp, hunt, fish, fix almost anything andalways have a great time doing it. He had a quick wit that kepteveryone laughing all the way to the end. He led an amazing life;he loved Jesus, his wife of 56 years and his family.

Preceding him in death are his parents; sister, Lanelle Thurman;and brother, Robert Shelton Rushing.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; his six children Pam, Tim(LuAnne), John (Gayle), Paul, Ruth Dana (Don) and Rachel Gray(Jay.) He will also be fondly remembered by his 16 grandchildrenand 12 great-grandchildren. “We’re going to miss you Dad.”

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday Nov. 12 atScio Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate a memorialcontribution be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation

or Evergreen Hospice in Albany, Ore.

Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services in Stayton,Ore.

Online condolences can be made at Weddle-Funeral.com.