The eldest child of Willy Curt Busch, of Germany, and Emma Sturzenegger, of Switzerland, he was born March 27, 1927 in Ceuta, Spanish Morocco. The family arrived in the United States at Key West in August, 1928 aboard the SS Cuba via the Canary Islands and Havana, Cuba. He graduated from Jeff Davis high school in 1946, became a naturalized citizen in 1948, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Houston in 1960. He married Carolyn Jane Phelps in 1956, and they lived in Galena Park, Texas. Together they raised four children.
He is survived by: Wanda Marie Busch Childress (Steve) of Conroe; Paul Curt Busch (Lori Leffingwell) of Bellville; Donna Carol Busch of Galena Park; Amy Elizabeth Heiman (Brian) of Houston; grandchildren Matthew Thomas Childress (Lazara Coronado) of Katy; Sarah Elizabeth Busch (D. Fisher) of Melbourne, Australia; Jonathan Andrew Busch (Rachel Reed) of Missouri City, Michael Paul Childress of Texas, David Allen Busch of Melbourne, Florida, and Mary Helena Forsyth of Houston; great-grandchildren Natalia Isabella & Curtis Diego Childress, and Jonas Allen & Jeremiah Thomas Childress. He also leaves to cherish his memory his sister Margaret Wenzel (Floyd), sister-in-law Sue Busch, sister-in-law Linda Long (Woodley), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn by one year and four days, his parents Willy and Emma, and his siblings (and their spouses), Johan Busch, Johanna Reese (Roy), Oscar Busch, Evelyn Long, and Doris Sodolak (Lawrence).
Willy worked for PPG Industries Coatings Division for 45 years. He started when he was 16, sweeping the laboratory floors, and ended as the head of the quality control laboratory when the plant closed. Subsequently he worked for International Paint and the IRS. He enjoyed watching sports of all types, bowled in a league, played golf, and pitched for Christ Lutheran's softball team when he was younger. He was a 50-year member and past president, treasurer, and historian of the Houston Society for Coatings Technology. He traveled all over the United States with his wife, Carolyn, attending conferences and doing genealogy research for her side of the family. He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, starting school at and being raised attending Christ Lutheran in Kashmere Gardens. He was a member of the school board and long-time Treasurer of Peace Lutheran in Galena Park, and also attended Good Shepherd in Pasadena, and finally Trinity Lutheran-Downtown, Houston.
The family would also like to thank the nursing staff of the Gardens of Bellaire and Bayou Manor for their compassionate care in his final years.
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