Charles N. Rushing

It is with heavy hearts and much love that our family mourns the passing of Charles N. Rushing, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, on March 21, 2023. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed forever by his children, Chuck (Diana), Jason (Kathy), and Arick; his grandchildren, Jeremy, Jennifer, Joseph, Adam, Jessica, Tim, and Chris; his great-grandchildren, Jayden and Kaleigh, his brother Bill, as well as numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, sisters Jean and Anne, and brother Jim.

Born during the depression, he began his journey on the family farm in rural Lawrence, Tennessee. School was not big on his list (he did disable a school bus with the old rag-up-the-tailpipe trick) and when the opportunity came to leave the farm, he came north to find a job in Detroit. He worked many jobs including time at the A&P bakery, Packard, and General Motors before heading to Ford Motor Company where he would spend the next 37 years.

He met his wife JoAnn in Detroit- it all started with a question: "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" It was a convertible and she always said it was very nice. They were married at Trumbell Avenue Presbyterian on June 20, 1953.

Early in his career, Charles was drafted by the US Army, which made him promptly volunteer for the US Air Force. He spent three years in Europe in communications as a cable splicer in France, Germany, the low countries, Saudi Arabia, and French North Africa (present-day Morocco). JoAnn sailed on the fastest ocean liner ever built, the SS United States, to live with her new husband in off-base housing (of course) as there was never any space for enlisted personnel.

A constant throughout his life was his dedication to his family and friends. Where his kids were, he's be there. Volunteering as a Thunderbird's football dad, Cub Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, Kiwanis member, Free Mason, chief bottle washer, church volunteer at fish frys, and singing in the choir.

Wherever Charles and JoAnn lived, they always found a church to call home. Their most recent church family was Oak Pointe Church in Canton, Michigan.

A memorial gathering for Charles will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Harry J Will Funeral Homes, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. Friends and family will continue to visit Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM, followed by a memorial service beginning at 11:00 AM.