Ronald Alvin Bush

It is written that “Individuals born on September 28 are known for their balanced yet dynamic personalities. With a unique combination of empathy, creativity, and diligence, they excel in creating harmony and success in their personal and professional lives.”

September 28, 1952, was a Sunday and the day that Ronald Alvin Bush was born in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Ronald was the name given to him to honor the service of Navy serviceman Ronald Hunt, son of Caroline Hunt, a very close friend of Ron’s parents. Ronald Hunt perished in a navy plane crash on which he was hitching a ride to Japan.

Ron’s parents are Berta Mae and Clifford Alvin Bush. Noteworthy about his birth is that Clifford was away hunting and missed Ron’s birth. As history tends to repeat itself, we skip ahead for a moment to another Sunday, September 15th, 1985, when Ron and his wife Diane welcomed their first child, a son, naming him Timothy Alvin Bush. Ron was away hunting! Father and brother found him on the other side of the mountain but before they could get Ron to the hospital, news of Timothy’s birth was announced to the world over the airwaves from that mountain top at 3:24 in the morning.

Alvin is a name that translates to “noble friend” and as a middle name, it connects Ron with his father Cliff who passed away in 2007 and his son Timothy, who passed in 2019 at the age of 33. Many who knew Ron considered him a “noble friend” reflecting high moral principles and ideals that guided his personal and professional life.

Ron and his four siblings, Michael, Christie, Gerald, and Carrie were schooled for most of their Elementary through High School years in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The three brothers shared a passion for gymnastics which included practicing on apparatus constructed with their dad in the back yard of their home. That passion remained after Ron’s graduation in 1971. He returned to fill in as the volunteer head coach during Gerald’s senior year two years later.

Ron served in the United States Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from June 4, 1973, to June 3, 1975. During his time in the Army Ron coached a girls gymnastics team. Ron pursued post-secondary education at OCE (Now Western Oregon University) in Monmouth and at Oregon State University.

Throughout his adult years Ron was a problem solver. He especially loved a technical challenge requiring him to draw upon his years in construction as a youth working with his father and brothers. In the early 80’s he added to his skills by earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University. He then gained professional engineering licenses in Oregon, Washington, and California. In later years he added professional surveying licenses in Oregon and Washington. Armed with this background Ron practiced civil engineering and surveying in the northwest for over 40 years, first with firms such as KCM and Brown & Caldwell, moving on to working for The City of Gresham. Ultimately, Ron opened his own consulting practice from his home in Sandy providing surveying and engineering services to local consulting firms, governmental agencies, and private clients until his passing.

Though many things might be going on around Ron he had an uncanny ability to focus on the one thing in front of him with the highest priority. When he faced a particularly sticky problem he would persist until it was solved which, at times, resulted in rushing to other commitments.

You don’t always find an engineer that is also a people person, but Ron was. If you called him on the phone he always answered and had time to talk to you no matter what was happening. He especially loved to hear from old friends collected over the years. His laugh was infectious, and he used it often.

He exhibited three notable passions to those who knew him. These were family, engineering and surveying, and fishing. He loved chasing trout and steelhead, both on the streams of Oregon and with family in Alaska. He was especially fond of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon and spent many happy hours floating and fishing this gem with friends and family. He loved to do it and to dream about it, as many an avid fly fisher does. Many an evening was spent around the campfire with friends after a long day on the river.

Ron met Diane Williams one evening at a local establishment where both were relaxing after basketball for Ron and racquetball for Diane. The conversation that ensued went to places that the other wouldn’t know. Diane came up with London, Oregon where her dad was born. As it turned out Ron’s mom was from the same area attending school in the same 5th grade class as Diane’s dad. As the saying goes the rest is history with the two being married on June 28,1981. Four year later came the birth of a son, Timothy in 1985, daughter Shelley in 1987, and daughter Laura in 1989. One event of note in Ron’s family life was the diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for son Timothy in 1989. Further, Ron and Diane were avid Blazer fans in the early 1990’s holding season tickets for many years. Ron was a devoted father and husband putting his family first.

Ron is survived by four generations including his mother, Berta Bush, 94, brothers Mike (Jan) Bush, and Gerry (Ramona) Bush, sisters Christie (Larry) Amans and Carrie (Joe) Proulx. He also leaves behind his wife, Diane, daughter Shelley (Josh) Zaloznik, granddaughters Vanessa and Naomi, daughter Laura Bush, grandson Jackson Sanchez, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please give a donation in his name to a charity of your choosing.