Robert A. Rust

Bob was born in Evansville, Indiana August 28, 1929, and graduated from Central High School in 1947. He attended Purdue University where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and from where he graduated in 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering. In 1952, he and his wife of 65 years, Carolyn (Carole) Dowell married. A veteran, he served in the Army from 1952-1954 attaining the rank of Sergeant.

Over the course of his career, he worked for Rust Construction in Evansville as a draftsman; Miller and Miller in Terre Haute as a Structural Engineer; Ferris Traylor in Evansville as an Engineer and Architect; and General Electric in Mt. Vernon as an Engineer and Manager. He enjoyed working at General Electric from where he retired after several decades. He then found joy in an unexpected second career as a Project Engineer on campus and in Historic New Harmony for the University of Southern Indiana (USI) for 15 years before fully retiring to care for his wife.

He designed and worked on many buildings including the Sears Building in Clarksville, Tennessee, dormitories at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, and North Park Shopping Center, Evansville, Indiana. He oversaw the maintenance and restoration of many buildings in New Harmony, Indiana, on behalf of USI. In addition, he volunteered his time to redesign the Mt. Vernon Waterworks for which he was given a Key to the City.

He is a past member of the Posey County Economic Development Corporation, Reitz Home Board, Evansville Rotary, and longtime supporter of the Posey County Community Foundation and University of Southern Indiana, among many beloved community organizations.

Bob enjoyed genealogy research, gardening, traveling and desserts. Thoughtful, caring, proper, he lived and led by example at home and in his work.

He is survived by the joys in his life and people to whom he was devoted: his wife, Carole D. Rust and his children: Richard C. Rust (Evansville, IN), David R. Rust (Bloomington, IN), Sarah (Rust) Phillips (Indianapolis, IN), and seven grandchildren.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Alexander West Chapel, 2100 W. Illinois, Evansville, IN from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with a short remembrance program beginning at 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory may be made to:

Rust Presidential Scholarship

USI Foundation

University of Southern Indiana

8600 University Blvd.

Evansville, IN 47712

usi.edu/onlinegiving

Or

Posey County Community Foundation

For the Robert and Carole Rust Fund

c/o Community Foundation Alliance

5000 E. Virginia Street

Suite 4

Evansville, IN 47715

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.