WESTFIELD; Harold A. Bush, 90 of Westfield, passed away peacefully at home on September 16th. He was born on September 20, 1924 in Westfield to Homer E. and Edna (Graves) Bush, and lived his entire life in Westfield. Harold was part of the ninth generation of the Bush family born in Westfield. Harold was married to Lucy (King) Bush for 34 years. Lucy passed away in 1983. They were married in 1949, in Westfield’s Stanley Park, and were one of the first couples to be married in the park. He married Priscilla (Gates) Bush in 1984, and they were together for 29 years. Priscilla passed away in 2012. Harold is survived by his and Lucy’s four children; Susan Smith of Southampton; Linda Bush of Easthampton; Arthur Bush and his wife Michelle of Easthampton; and Charlotte Fletcher and her husband Richard of Rocky Hill, CT. He is also survived by Priscilla’s four children; Stanley Seth Bush Jr. and his wife Patricia of Macon, GA; Christia Fordyce and her husband Cary of Arnoldsville; GA, Nancy Davis and her husband Charles of Loganville, GA; and Douglas Bush and his wife Judy of Marietta, GA. He also leaves many grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as two sisters in law; Beverly (Richmond) Bush of Springfield, OH and Lila (Weaver) Bush of Rochester, NY. In addition to Lucy and Priscilla, he was predeceased by his sister Barbara Bush of Westfield, and three brothers; Stanley of Atlanta, GA; Everett of Springfield OH; and David of Rochester, NY.
In Harold’s early years he worked on the family farm on Union Street with his father. For 34 years, he was the manager of the salt distribution facility on Union Street in Westfield for several different salt companies, and retired in 1991 from Akzo Salt. Harold was very active in The First United Methodist Church of Westfield, as well as local politics. He was a member of the Church’s Board of Trustees for 40 years, and served as Chairman of the Board for 27 years. He was also Chairman of the church building committee when the current church building was built in 1969. Many of Harold’s best, and lifelong friendships came from his church activities. He was on the Westfield City Council for 6 years, serving as Council President for two of those years. He was also active with the Westfield Historical Society, The Westfield River Watershed Association, the Westfield YMCA board, the Westfield Rotary Club and Hampden Harvest. One of Harold’s greatest joys was being outside working in his yard and gardens, as well as having family over for picnics and Sunday meals. He grew a variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers. His favorite summer meal was having seven or eight vegetables from his garden. Every fall he would make countless gallons of apple cider, using apples from trees he planted in his yard. He hand ground and pressed all of it himself and gave most away to family and friends. After retirement, Harold and Priscilla traveled extensively around the country with friends.
The family would like to thank Visiting Angels Home Care and Noble Hospital Hospice and Visiting Nurses for the outstanding care he has received over the last few years. The funeral will be held on Friday September 25th at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Harold A. Bush Memorial Fund, care of the First United Methodist Church, 16 Court St. Westfield, MA 01085.
