John Earl Rust

John Earl Rust, 67, of El Paso Texas, passed away on 1/17/2014 following a fight with pulmonary fibrosis. John was born in Toledo, Ohio on August 26, 1946. He lived in Ohio during his early childhood until moving to El Paso. He joined the Air Force, Airman 3rd Class, with service in Amarillo, Texas and Glasgow, Montana. After an honorable discharge in 1965, he returned back to El Paso graduating from Ysleta High School in 1967. He began his 34 year career at El Paso Electric as a shift helper in 1967, completing his apprenticeship in 1971. In 1983 he was promoted Shift Supervisor and then to Assistant Plant Manager. From 1984 to 85 he was assigned as the Assistant to the Vice President of Power Supply. He returned to the Rio Grande Plant and was promoted to Plant Manager in 1987, working until retirement in 2001. In 1990 he graduated from UTEP, receiving his MBA. John was a member of two local Masonic lodges, #1111 and #130. He was Past Master at Ysleta #1333. He also received the 33° from the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. John was also a life member of the El Maida Shrine. After retiring from the Electric Company, he pursued his many hobbies. He traveled all 50 states for a 3-year period with his wife, sightseeing and fishing along the way. Recently he focused on leather crafting, participating at the Downtown Art Market as well as other local craft fairs. He was a part-time teacher at the University of Phoenix from 1994-2012. Throughout his life, he took on every challenge not as an obstacle but as a chance to further his knowledge. That dedication and commitment to learning will be sorely missed. John is survived by his wife Patty; 2 sons and their spouses, John II and Virginia, Charles and Valerie ; brother, Roger and Theresa McDonald; sister Sandra Tolbert; 4 grandsons, many nephews & nieces. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles William Rust and James McDaniel. Special thanks to Mary Ann and Hobie Syson. Visitation will be held at Martin Funeral home 3839 Montana Ave Tuesday, January 28 from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.. Graveside Service will be Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11:30 A.M. at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation John Earl Rust, 67, of El Paso Texas, passed away on 1/17/2014 following a fight with pulmonary fibrosis