Paul F. Rush

Paul Frederick (Johnny) Rush, 90, died peacefully at home on December 17, 2023, with his beloved wife, Betty, at his side.  He passed away just 6 days before their 67^th wedding anniversary. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 22, 2023 at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta with Dr. Randal Whitten officiating. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Memorial Park  in Atlanta. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 22nd from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the funeral home. 

Paul is survived by his wife, Betty Clayton Rush; his daughter, Brenda Rush Eidson; son-in-law, Art Eidson; his grandchildren, Austin and Molly Beth Eidson, and Breanna Eidson; and a half-sister, Mary Carlisle and numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Rush Cheney and Harrison Benjamin (Harry) Rush, Sr.; three brothers, Joseph Carl Rush, Harry Benjamin Rush, Robert Henry Rush, and one sister, Alice Rush McKeon and two half-sisters, Louise Rush and Peggy Delaney.

He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 29, 1933.  He grew up in Atlanta and attended O’Keefe High School where he played football and baseball.  There he met and later married the love of his life, Betty Jane Clayton on December 23, 1956.  He was so excited when their daughter, Brenda Jane, came along.  He spent a lot of time with Brenda playing bad minton, tag football, fishing, archery, and all sorts of other outdoor activities.

His next big thrill was when his grandchildren came along.  First, grandson, Austin and then granddaughter, Breanna.  When they were old enough to play sports, he and Betty spent every Saturday at their games – soccer, roller hockey, orchestra, concerts, 4-H gun competitions, graduations from high school and colleges.  They thought about moving to the mountains (Blue Ridge) but decided to stay close to Brenda, Art, and the grandchildren.  Eventually buying a house in Kennesaw.

His hobbies were hunting, fishing, traveling with family, and spending time in the north Georgia mountains where he eventually built their log cabin.  He cut down the trees, ran them through a saw mill and actually did build the cabin himself.  He spent a lot of time with he grandchildren in the mountains, teaching them the art of trout fishing, making bamboo huts, riding scooters and motorcycles and teaching them to make his famous spaghetti dish, and cooking those big country breakfasts.

Everyone who knew him knew of his love for the Atlanta Braves baseball team and his University of Georgia football team.  He loved his “Dawgs”.

He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean Crisis.  He was a pitcher on the Army baseball team at Ft. Benning, GA.  His specialty was the “knuckle ball”.  When he got out of the Army he decided to try out for Atlanta’s baseball team which was before the Atlanta Braves came to town – then it was the Atlanta Crackers.  He tried out for the team and they wanted to sign him to a contract but send him to their farm team for one year.  Since he had just gotten home from being away for two years in the service he did not want to go out of town again so he declined their offer.  If the timing had been better we might have had a famous major league pitcher in our midst.

He was ordained as a deacon at Brown’s Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta and was a member of the church bowling team.  When they moved to Mableton, he and Betty joined Mt. Harmony Baptist Church.

He spent most of his working career in public service.  He retired from Fulton County Environmental Control after 36 years of service.