Gladys Bush

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Gladys Bush, it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

Gladys was born on October 24, 1927 at At home in Hull, Yorkshire, England. She was the daughter of Edward And Alice Bishop. Raised in Hull, Yorkshire, England, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

Growing up, Gladys was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Gladys was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Gladys was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Gladys took part in a number of activities as a child. In her spare time she liked reading and knitting. Gladys' memorable achievements included.

Gladys enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Gladys was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Gladys was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. She graduated from Completed school in England at age 14. Gladys enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers.

Most folks would say that Gladys was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Gladys was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Gladys best trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that she made, Gladys kept. While growing up, some of her best friends were Audrey, Eileen, Barbara, Millie Hackney, and Pat Holous. Later in life, she became friends with Joan Friend, and Cathy Scarborough.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Gladys. On June 26, 1948 Gladys married Sidney Bush at St Andrews Church of Hull, Yorkshire, England. She was totally committed to Sidney and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Gladys naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Gladys disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

Gladys was a good mother to her children. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Gladys was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Gladys was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Gladys was blessed with One child, Elaine. They were also blessed with two grandchildren and four great grandchildren, Grandchildren: Jeffery Serpa (Valerie), and Krista Figueroa (Mario). Great-grandchildren: Sheena, Ashley, Courtney, and Ian.

If you gave Gladys a deadline, she would meet it. At work, Gladys was always on task. Without hesitation, Gladys could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. Her primary occupation was Homemaker and a Clerk. She was employed for 20yrs. For G. M. Depot in Covina, CA. During that time, Gladys excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. She was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Gladys was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Gladys had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. She was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Gladys liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Gladys's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Gladys preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were reading, knitting, and crossword puzzles. Gladys was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself and could often be found just reading about her favorite pastimes.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Gladys had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included going home to England to visit.

Gladys passed away on October 25, 2010 at Citrus Valley Hospice, West Covina, CA. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Layfield; grandchildren, Jeffery and Krista; and great-grandchildren, Sheena, Ashley, Courtney, and Ian. Services were held at Custer Christiansen Mortuary, Covina, CA.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Gladys was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Gladys was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Gladys Bush was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Gladys. She will be missed..