Dr. Mary Anna Rushia

Mary Anna Rushia MD Mary Anna Loughridge Rushia, 92, died Saturday, January 10, 2015, at the Hospice House in Charlottesville, VA. In the last 2 months of her life, she fought back from a fall and a series of infections. She worked hard and with courage to return to her life with family and friends, spending a happy last Christmas with them. Shortly thereafter, she developed infections from which she could not recover. Mary Anna was a twin, born July 19, 1922, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Linn Wilson Loughridge and Rhonda Maria Gatton Loughridge. She grew up during The Great Depression in Kansas, living in Oil Hill, Eldorado and Wichita. She graduated from East High School, Wichita University, and University of Kansas Medical School where she earned an M.D. Degree in 1948. She interned at University of Iowa Hospital where she met her husband-to-be, Edwin Louis Rushia, MD. After her internship, Mary Anna practiced general medicine in Riverside, Iowa. There she gave birth to the first of 5 children. Her practice gave way to mothering as her family grew. Moves were made to Little Rock, AR, Augusta, GA, and Atlanta, GA., where Mary Anna began working in medicine again at Emory University’s Student Health Clinic. The Rushia family made a final move to Charlottesville in 1970. Shortly thereafter, with five children, and at the age of 48 years, she entered and completed a three-year residency in Psychiatry at the University of Virginia. She was a practicing psychiatrist in Charlottesville until she retired in 1987. Mary Anna enjoyed travel, computer technology, gardening, playing chess and reading books. She and Ed were long time members of the Senior Center and were involved in many facets of the building of the facility at Pepsi Place. The rose garden there was Mary Anna’s pride and joy. Having Apple computers added to the computer lab when only PCs were deemed worthy was among her other contributions. She remained active at the Senior Center, going to the chess club and computer classes weekly. Mary Anna was a member of a book group of local mental health professionals that has met for many years. She enjoyed the books, the friendships and the intellectual discussions. Over many years, Mary Anna created an amazing and much loved garden at her home. Though she spent the last several years of her life at Morningside Assisted Living, she continued to garden with the loving help of her friend Trudy Bronson. Together they provided family and friends with an incredible assortment of lovely flowers and healthy vegetables. Mary Anna was predeceased by her twin sister Margaretta Wellman, her beloved husband of 65 years, Edwin Louis Rushia, and her son-in-law, Al Jay Fowler. She is survived by her son Edwin Rushia and his wife Christine Fleckles of Crozet, VA, her daughter Mary Lynn Fowler of Columbia, SC, her daughter Barbara Cannon and her husband Pete Cannon of Fredericksburg, VA, her son Robert Rushia and his wife Pamela Dolgin of Culpeper, VA, and her daughter Judith Rushia of Charlottesville, VA. She is survived by her grandchildren Bekah Morris and her husband Neil Morris of Gordonsville, VA, Julianna Houck and her husband David Houck of Durham, NC, Ani Cannon of Fredericksburg, VA, Jay Fowler and his wife Michelle Fowler of Charleston, SC, and Lou Cannon of Fredericksburg, VA. She also is survived by nephew Lee Gladwin and his wife Elaine Gladwin of Leesburg, VA, and by nieces Dorene Healy and Susan Wellman, and nephew Hank Wellman all from AZ. A Celebration of Life for Mary Anna will be held at the Senior Center of Charlottesville on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 2:00 pm. Those attending are welcome to bring a flower or a sprig of greenery from their own gardens or to share flowers that will be on hand so that we can make one last beautiful bouquet for Mary Anna. Memorials can to be made to the Senior Center of Charlottesville, Hospice House of Charlottesville, Martha Jefferson Hospital or the Charlottesville/Albemarle Rescue Squad.