Joe Carroll Rust, Sr.

He was born January 19, 1938, on his grandfather's farm in Henly, Hays County, Texas, and had lived in San Antonio since the age of four.

He worked nearly 50 years in the newspaper business, beginning his career as a copyboy with The San Antonio Light, and advancing to the position of associate editor. When The Light closed, he worked in community relations with the San Antonio Express-News before retirement.

Joe had a strong commitment to education. He was the co-valedictorian of his senior class at Edison High School and magna summa cum laude as the outstanding male graduate of the School of Journalism of The University of Texas at Austin in 1961. He taught journalism at Trinity University at night during part of the time he was the editorial page editor of The Light. He chaired the city's commission on literacy for seven years and guided the program for plans to build the municipal literacy centers. Above his desk during his active journalism years was a plaque stating that a man's legacy 100 years after his death would not be his personal wealth in terms of material possessions but whether he had helped a child. To fulfill this commitment, he spent many of his retirement years substitute teaching in four school districts. He also worked in civil affairs peacekeeping exercises with African soldiers. He had been honored for efforts in education by Ford Salute to Education and was a recipient of the Harriet Marmon Award in education. He had been cited for his writing skills by the Texas Associated Press, United Press International, the San Antonio Bar Association and the City of San Antonio.

Also, he served on the board of the Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital, as a member of the Army Community Council, as president of the San Antonio Press Club and the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Conopus Club, the Easter Seals Society and the Mental Health Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he was a deacon and a Stephen Ministry leader and in the Thursday Morning Men's Bible Class.

He was a member of the Texas Cavaliers and had served on that board, and of the San Antonio German Club and the Order of the Alamo. He was a founding member of the Los Guajalotes Salvajes Supper Club and had served, along with his beloved wife, Margie, as president of the Los Alegradores Dance Club. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He served on the board of the Friends of Hospice.

He was the author of five books, a history of Bexar County given by the county to visiting dignitaries, a book produced in conjunction with photographer Mark Langford on the current history of the city, a history of manufacturing in San Antonio, a novel on city government and a volume of children's moralistic stories.

Joe was known as a person of good humor and a helping hand. He always was handy with a joke, often corny, and a tale to tell as a citizen historian.

With all his activities in a quite active life, the role Joe treasured most was that of husband and father. He had great joy in his partner, the love of his life, Margie, and her many community accomplishments (they often co-chaired civic events) and in the sports prowess of his two sons, Joey and Cape, and their family life.

He was preceded in death by his darling Margie (Margaret Cape Rust), and his parents, Ura Inez Crawford Rust and Vernon Alton Rust. He is survived by his sons, Joe Carroll Rust Jr. and his wife Joni, San Antonio, and John Cape Rust and his wife Laurie, Leavenworth, KS; grandchildren, Mallie and Megan Rust, Leavenworth; Jake Youngblood and Louie May, Joe Carroll Rust III (J.C.), San Antonio; sister, Mary Beth Rust Buffington, San Antonio; a niece, Amy Lorenz and her husband Robert, Glendale, California; two nephews, Greg Buffington, Duncanville, Texas, and Marshall Rust Buffington, and his wife, Jenny, Valencia, California and many treasured friends.

A graveside family service will be held in the City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas, in the Martindale, Cape and Rust section.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY

MARCH 21, 2016

11:30 A.M.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

404 N. ALAMO

A reception will follow in the church's Westminster Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joe's name to First Presbyterian Church, 404 N. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205.

In a news story, the symbol -30- means the end. The story of Joe Carroll Rust, Sr., however, is not at an end. His confidence in the future and his bright outlook on tomorrow- despite his love of history and the past- he would tell you, means that the story of his life is to continue in another place and another time, a place and time where his beloved Margie waits for him.