Donald Lee Bush

His family moved to Richmond, CA, but returned to Fresno because of his father’s job in construction. Upon returning, Don attended several elementary schools. His family settled in the Lowell area. While in the fourth grade at Lowell Elementary School, his teacher discovered his drawing talent. Birds were his specialty. This led his teacher to copy his drawings and use them for class coloring. At the age of 12, he began delivering the Fresno Bee.

Don graduated from Fresno High School in 1956 and worked in construction with his father in the San Francisco Bay Area. His talents would find purpose as he went on to a 36-year career at Westlands Water District, starting as a surveyor, draftsman, and eventually, Supervisor of Purchasing. He retired in 2000.

Like so many of his generation, Don also had a love of cars. It started when he was ten years old on a trip to Oklahoma with his family, when he and his brother would identify cars on the road. He had an eye for sleek looking cars. This led him to buy a 1949 Chevy coupe his senior year in high school with the money he earned from his Fresno Bee route. Later, he would share how after a couple of days showing off and driving around his car, a kid told him, “You’re not going to leave those fender skirts on?” Quick to recognize what was good advice from life-long friend to be, Bill Meeker, he got rid of the fender skirts. This was the 1950s, and having a cool car was the thing to do. After graduation, Don and Bill joined the Pan Draggers car club and cruised Fulton Street with their friends. Car shows were a favorite of his. He became a Mercedes Benz enthusiast, owning a number of them over the years, and joining the Mercedes Benz Club.

At home, one of Don’s favorite pastimes was watching sports, especially his favorite college basketball team the Blue Devils of Duke University. In apparent contrast, he was meticulous in his home improvement projects. Like his father, he was good with construction. He remodeled whatever needed to be done around the house. A natural handyman, his skill was exemplified by building a backyard pergola, which became the focal point of outdoor gatherings. Whatever he worked on showed perfection. He spent many hours tending to his beautifully maintained garden. The landscaping and interior of the house could have been featured in a magazine. He knew how to take the ordinary and mold it into something remarkable. His personal appearance was no exception as he always wanted to look his best.

Don was a quiet, reserved man, who was also smart and funny with a dry sense of humor. Above all, however, he was a compassionate man. He had a soft spot in his heart for his dogs and cats. He always worried that they might be too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

He loved to travel around California, including San Francisco, Carmel, Moonstone Beach, Cambria, and for 15 years to Mendocino. In 2015, he was excited to go on his dream vacation to Canada to see Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper National Park, while staying at the Fairmont Hotel. As he grew older, life presented more personal challenges. With dialysis treatment, he persevered over the last four years to lead a normal life.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and older brother James “Tiny” Bush. He is survived by long-time companion, Cynthia; sister, Alice Rash; children: Michael, Patrick, and Kimberly; grandchildren: Jaxon and Morgan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

We bid him a fond farewell. Have a great trip.

A private service was held at Belmont Memorial Cemetery on May 25, 2021.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lislefuneralhome.com for the Bush family.